Piper PA-46-350P accident near Marine City, Michigan, January 18, 2004
On January 18, 2004 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-46-350P, registered N46WD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marine City, Michigan (Marine City airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing. Factors associated with the accident were the icy snow covered runway, the tailwind conditions, the snowbank, and the ditch which the airplane contacted.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 18, 2004 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Marine City, Michigan · Marine City · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-46-350P · all PA-46-350Ps on the register
- Registration
- N46WD · registry record · serial 4636242
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane impacted a snow bank while landing on runway 04 (3,100 feet by 60 feet, snow and ice covered asphalt). The pilot stated that the airplane was aligned with the runway centerline and upon touchdown the airplane began veering to the left. He attempted to correct the left swerve with the use of right rudder. The airplane continued veering to the left until it impacted a four-foot high snow bank alongside the runway and came to rest in a ditch. The airport manager reported that the runway had a 1/16 inch layer of ice covered by a 1/2 inch of dry snow at the time of the accident. The manager also reported the tire tracks on the runway showed the airplane traveled straight on the runway for about 200 feet prior to a sweeping left curve. The pilot stated that prior to takeoff, the left main wheel crossed an area of snow ridges standing several inches high. The pilot stated that he did not apply full brake pressure prior to the takeoff. A post accident examination did not find any discrepancies with either brake caliber, and detected no water or foreign objects in the brake lines. The inspection revealed that the left brake functioned as designed. The reported winds, 12 miles from the accient site, were from 290 degrees at 13 knots.
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: 900 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 900 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 2, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 440 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2003; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,340 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AE2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 76G Marine City MI at 8:40 pm
- Destination: 76G Marine City MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 04, 3,100 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 21°F (-6°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.73 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from MTC, 12 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.