Piper PA-28-140 accident near Linden, Michigan, August 16, 1986
On August 16, 1986 at about 8:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N40754, was substantially damaged in an accident near Linden, Michigan (Price airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries; 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 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 16, 1986 · about 8:10 pm local time
- Place
- Linden, Michigan · Price · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N40754 · no longer on the register · serial 287425157
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NEWLY CERTIFICATED PVT PLT WITH THREE PASSENGERS WAS ATTEMPTING TO PRACTICE A SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF ON THE 2500 FT LONG ASPHALT RUNWAY. THE OWNER'S MANUAL RECOMMENDS 25 DEGREES OF FLAPS TO PERFORM THE TAKEOFF. THE PLT DID NOT EXTEND ANY FLAPS. AFTER LIFTOFF, THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE RWY INTO TALL CORN AND NOSED OVER.
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: 59 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 30 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,615 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 14, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aero Ed, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: 9G2 Linden MI at 8:10 pm
- Destination: PTK Pontiac MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:49 pm from FNT, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.