Piper PA-24-250 accident near Mackinac Island, Michigan, August 12, 1984
On August 12, 1984 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N7799P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mackinac Island, Michigan (Mackinac Island airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 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
- August 12, 1984 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Mackinac Island, Michigan · Mackinac Island · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N7799P · no longer on the register · serial 24-3017
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT STATED THAT DURING TAKEOFF, AT AN ALT OF 40 FEET AGL A LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED. HE REPORTED HE LANDED STRAIGHT AHEAD ON THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED INTO A FIELD OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY, INTO WEEDS BEFORE IT STRUCK A STEEL FENCE POST. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED THAT THE LEFT MAIN AND RIGHT AUX TANK WERE ONE INCH BELOW FULL WHEN VISUALLY CHECKED AND THE INDICATORS SHOWED FULL. THE LEFT AUX TANK WAS HALF FULL AND THE INDICATOR SHOWED EMPTY. THE RT MAIN TANK WAS EMPTY AND THE INDICATOR SHOWED 1/8 OF A TANK. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND TO BE ON THE LEFT MAIN TANK BUT THE PILOT STATED HE SWITCHED TANKS AFTER THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT STATED HE COULD NOT REMEMBER WHICH FUEL TANK HE TOOK OFF ON.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,242 hours in all; 1,242 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 6, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: DTW Detroit MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 3,510 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from PLN, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.