Piper PA-30 accident near Berrien Springs, Michigan, June 6, 1984
On June 6, 1984 at about 10:14 pm local time, a Piper PA-30, registered N8205Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Berrien Springs, Michigan (Andrews University airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- June 6, 1984 · about 10:14 pm local time
- Place
- Berrien Springs, Michigan · Andrews University · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-30 · all PA-30s on the register
- Registration
- N8205Y · no longer on the register · serial 30-1330
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF NEAR THE END OF THE RWY. THE SEQUENCE BEGAN WHEN THE PLT NOTICIED THAT ACFT ACCELERATION WAS 'A BIT SLOW' ON THE RWY. THEN A NOTICABLE DROP IN RPM ON THE RIGHT ENGINE OCCURRED AT ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN THE 3100 FT RWY. THE PLT DECIDED TO CONTINUE THE TAKEOFF ATTEMPT RATHER THEN ABORT. AFTER THE ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE A TURN TO THE RIGHT BEGAN IN SPITE OF THE PLTS ATTEMPTS TO FLY STRAIGHT AHEAD. THE ACFT DID NOT ATTAIN VMCA (80 KTS), IMPACTED THE GROUND AT A SHALLOW ANGLE AND SLID 400 FT TO A STOP. THE STALL WARNING HORN WAS ON FOR THE LAST 900 FT OF THE FLT. NO REASON FOR THE LOSS OF RPM WAS FOUND EXCEPT POSSIBLY THE SPARK PLUGS WHICH SHOWED SIGNS OF SOOTING.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,550 hours in all; 1,050 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 2,304 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,590 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 15, 1983; 112 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-C1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 120 Berrien Springs MI at 10:15 pm
- Destination: BTR Baton Rouge LA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 31, 3,100 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 007° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 6:40 pm
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.