Piper PA-16 accident near Chesaning, Michigan, September 18, 2000
On September 18, 2000 at about 6:53 pm local time, a Piper PA-16, registered N5943H, was destroyed in an accident near Chesaning, Michigan (Chesaning, Howard Nixon airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot failed to maintain clearance from the trees. A factor was the trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 2000 · about 6:53 pm local time
- Place
- Chesaning, Michigan · Chesaning, Howard Nixon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-16 · all PA-16s on the register
- Registration
- N5943H · registry record · serial 16-566
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses observed the airplane flying low on the final approach to the runway when it impacted trees about 50 feet in height, and then impact the ground in a steep nose down attitude. The airplane was observed doing touch and goes for about 15 minutes prior to the accident. The examination of the airplane revealed no preexisting anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The toxicological reported indicated that imipramine and diphenhydramine were present in the pilot. Imipramine has a detrimental effect on driving skills and other cognitive functions. Diphenhydramine can cause drowsiness.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 880 hours in all; 7 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,648 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 12, 2000; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 50G at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,200 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 165°F (74°C), dew point 127°F (53°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from FNT, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.