Piper PA-22 accident near Spring Arbor, Michigan, May 15, 1983
On May 15, 1983 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-22, registered N3242Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Spring Arbor, Michigan (Corn Stubble 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 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
- May 15, 1983 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Spring Arbor, Michigan · Corn Stubble · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22 · all PA-22s on the register
- Registration
- N3242Z · registry record · serial 22-7189
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT MADE A FORCED LANDING OFF THE ARPT WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT DURING TAKEOFF CLIMB. THE ACFT HAD ABOUT 1/2 A TANK OF FUEL IN BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT TANK BEFORE TAKEOFF. THE PLT WAS USING THE RIGHT TANK FOR TAKEOFF. THE PLT HAD DONE A 180 DEGREE LEFT TURN ON THE RWY FOR TAKEOFF. THE ENGINE QUIT AT ABOUT 200 FT AGL DURING TAKEOFF. A MAINTENANCE INSPECTOR FORFAA STATES THAT 'WHEN FUEL IS BEING USED FROM A TANK ON THE OUTSIDE OF A TURN, THE ENGINE MAY QUIT.' WITH LESS THAN A FULL TANK OF FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK AND A TURN TO THE LEFT THE CENTRIFUGAL FORCE WOULD MOVE THE FUEL OUTWARD CAUSING AN INTERRUPTION IN THE FUEL SUPPLY. THIS LEAVES AN AIR BUBBLE IN THE FUEL LINE. WHEN THIS BUBBLE REACHES THE CARBURETOR THEENGINE QUITS. NO OTHER REASON WAS FOUND FOR THE ENGINE STOPPAGE IN THIS ACCIDENT.
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: 450 hours in all; 450 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 430 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1982
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: JXN Jackson MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,600 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.