Piper PA-28-180D incident near Lansing, Michigan, July 17, 1985
On July 17, 1985 at about 6:58 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180D, registered N5328L, suffered minor damage in an incident near Lansing, Michigan (Lansing-Capital City airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt. 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 incident. 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
- July 17, 1985 · about 6:58 pm local time
- Place
- Lansing, Michigan · Lansing-Capital City · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180D · all PA-28-180Ds on the register
- Registration
- N5328L · registry record · serial 28-4632
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE EN ROUTE TO JACKSON, MI, THE OWNER/PLT SUFFERED AN APPARENT HEART ATTACK. THE PASSENGER, WHO WAS A PRIVATE PLT, SAFELY LANDED THE ACFT AT LANSING, MI. THE OWNER/PLT'S WIFE SAID THAT HE HAD A PLT CERTIFICATE, BUT SHE COULD NOT LOCATE IT. THERE WAS NO RECORD OF THE PLT EVER POSSESSING AN FAA PLT OR MEDICAL CERTIFICATE. THE PASSENGER'S LAST MEDICAL CERTIFICATE WAS DATED PRIOR TO 1973. A PATHOLOGICAL EXAM OF THE PLT SHOWED HE HAD SEVERE ATHEROSCLEROTIC CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE WITH EVIDENCE OF AN OLD MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION. A TOXICOLOGY CHECK OF THE PLT'S BLOOD SHOWED A LOW LEVEL OF ALCOHOL (0.031%); HOWEVER, NO RELATIONSHIP WAS ESTABLISHED BETWEEN CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL & THE HEART ATTACK.
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
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FHT Flint MI at 6:15 pm
- Destination: Jackson MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:49 pm from LAN
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.