Piper PA-32R-301T accident near Tecumseh, Michigan, October 15, 2000
On October 15, 2000 at about 1:30 am local time, a Piper PA-32R-301T, registered N289JG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tecumseh, Michigan (Meyers-Diver'S airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot was unable to rotate the aircraft during takeoff for undetermined reasons. A factor associated with the accident was the soft terrain, which the airplane encountered during the aborted takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 15, 2000 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Tecumseh, Michigan · Meyers-Diver'S · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-301T PA-32R-301 · all PA-32R-301Ts on the register
- Registration
- N289JG · registry record · serial 3257030
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane overran the runway and collided with soft terrain during an aborted takeoff. The pilot reported the preflight, engine start, and engine run-up were normal. He reported, "At 85 knts, I pulled back on the yoke. It moved only slightly, but the plane would not rotate. I pulled again hard, but still no movement. I then cut the throttle and applied full brakes." The airplane traveled off the end of the runway, across a road, and into a plowed field where the nose gear collapsed and both main gears were separated from the airplane. Inspection of the airplane failed to reveal any failure/malfunction with the flight control systems. Inspection of the engine revealed the three screws that hold the magneto harness cover on the right magneto were missing and the harness was backed away from the magneto. In addition, the turbine in the turbocharger was dragging when he attempted to spin it by hand. Teardown of the turbocharger revealed a build-up of carbon in the heat shield.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,226 hours in all; 622 in this make and model; 59 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 1,071 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 640 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 10, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AH1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3TE
- Destination: MIE Muncie IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,660 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 129°F (54°C), dew point 124°F (51°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from ADG, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.