Piper PA-28-181 accident near Gladwin, Michigan, July 14, 2001
On July 14, 2001 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N8253A, was involved in an accident near Gladwin, Michigan (Gladwin Settel Memorial airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's poor decision to exit the airplane onto the wing while the propeller was running.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 2001 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Gladwin, Michigan · Gladwin Settel Memorial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N8253A · registry record · serial 29-8190013
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot, who was seated in the right seat, reported they flew into the airport to attend a pancake breakfast. He reported that after landing a flagman directed them to a parking spot where they came to a complete stop. He reported that he knew they were going to need fuel prior to departing so he opened the door and exited the airplane onto the wing to look for a fuel truck. The pilot reported the propeller was still turning when he exited the airplane. He reported, "While standing on the wing of the parked aircraft, I slipped and went forward and threw up my left arm to protect instinctively myself and the result is that I ended up on the ground with a broken left arm and a cut on my left arm." The pilot rated passenger in the left seat reported, "[The pilot] wanted to get fuel. I suggested we shut the engine down and get fuel after breakfast. [The pilot] pulled the throttle back to a low idle, said leave it running I'll catch that guy (the person that parked us). [The pilot] got out of the plane stepped to the front of the wing apparently slipped. I saw him going off the front of the wing. I immediately pulled the mixture control off, shutting down the engine. [The pilot] was apparently struck by the propeller causing injury to his left arm."
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 499 hours in all; 259 in this make and model; 364 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 23, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Other crew
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Last flight review: September 29, 1998
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,291 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 9, 2001; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TVC Traverse City MI at 12:00 pm
- Destination: GDW Gladwin MI
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 | ||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.