Piper PA-18-150 accident near Lake City, Michigan, July 5, 2004
On July 5, 2004 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N7072B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake City, Michigan (Sapphire Lake 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 2004 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lake City, Michigan · Sapphire Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N7072B · registry record · serial 18-5147
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The float-equipped airplane was substantially damaged during landing when it yawed to the right after touch down, allowing the left float to catch the water. The aircraft subsequently nosed over. The pilot noted there was "minimal" wind and "near glassy water conditions." She stated that the aircraft was coming down off the step after touch down when it "began to turn a little to the right." She was unable to correct the yaw, which allowed the left float to sink enough to catch the water and the aircraft flipped over.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 174 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 68 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 27, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Lake City MI at 8:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 8:54 pm from CAD, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI04CA176.