Piper PA-28-181 accident near Harrison, Michigan, April 16, 1983
On April 16, 1983 at about 4:25 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N8578C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Harrison, Michigan (Clare County 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 16, 1983 · about 4:25 pm local time
- Place
- Harrison, Michigan · Clare County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N8578C · registry record · serial 28 7690152
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE EXECUTED A GO-AROUND ON THE FIRST LANDING ATTEMPT BECAUSE OF A STRONG CROSSWIND AND HIGH AIRSPEED. ON THE SECOND APPROACH, HE EXECUTED A GO-AROUND FROM THE FLARE BECAUSE OF A 'STRONG UPDRAFT'. THE PILOT STATEDTHAT DURING THE GO-AROUND, SOMETHING BLACK COVERED THE RIGHT SIDE OF WINDSHIELD. HE STATED THAT HE RESPONDED BY MOVING HIS RIGHT ARM UP AND TURNING THE AIRCRAFT TO THE LEFT. THE LEFT WING STRUCK TREES ABOUT 15 GAL AGL AND ABOUT 100 FEET TOTHE EAST OF THE RUNWAY MIDPOINT. A WITNESS STATED THAT ON THE SECOND LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED SEVERAL TIMES FOLLOWED BY THE LEFT WING RAISING. THE LANDING WAS ON RUNWAY 18. THE WIND WAS FROM 265 DEG AT 17 KTS GUSTING TO 20 KTS. REPORTEDLY, THE AIRPORT HAD TWO TURF RUNWAYS (4/22 AND 10/28).
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: 86 hours in all; 86 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 30 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 28, 1983; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hobby Flite,Inc
The flight
- Departed from: YIP Ypsilanti MI at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 265° at 17 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,100 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.