Piper PA-24-260 accident near Ypsilanti, Michigan, December 26, 1984
On December 26, 1984 at about 10:55 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-260, registered N8921P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ypsilanti, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- December 26, 1984 · about 10:55 pm local time
- Place
- Ypsilanti, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-260 · all PA-24-260s on the register
- Registration
- N8921P · registry record · serial 24-4377
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A FENCE & TWO PARKED CARS DURING A FORCED LANDING WHILE ON A PERSONAL FLT. THE PLT REPORTED THAT AFTER A 40 TO 50 MIN GROUND DELAY HE MADE A NORMAL CLIMB TO 5000 FT MSL WHERE HE TRIMMED THE ACFT & LEANED THE MIXTURE TO 75 PERCENT POWER. SHORTLY AFTER THE LEVEL OFF, THE ENG SUDDENLY LOST POWER & FUEL FLOW. THE PLT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY & REQUESTED VECTORS TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT. WHEN THE ACFT CAME OUT OF THE OVERCAST AT ABOUT 1000 FT MSL, THE PLT COULD NOT OBTAIN VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE AIRPORT & ELECTED TO LAND IN A PARKING LOT. EXAM OF THE ENG, FOUND WATER AROUND THE ALTERNATE AIR SOURCE DOOR & THE AIR FILTER WAS FROZEN & CLOGGED WITH ICE. A SIGMET WAS IN EFFECT AT THE TIME OF ACC CALLING ROR SEVERE ICING IN CLOUDS & PRECIP FROM THE SURFACE TO 12000 FT MSL.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,195 hours in all; 945 in this make and model; 51 in the last 90 days; 1,175 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 29, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-D4A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DTW Detroit MI at 10:20 pm
- Destination: BFA Boyne Falls MI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 080° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:45 pm from YI[, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N8921P the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.