Piper PA-25-235 accident near Marne, Michigan, July 20, 1987
On July 20, 1987 at about 10:45 am local time, a Piper PA-25-235, registered N8972Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marne, Michigan. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person 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
- July 20, 1987 · about 10:45 am local time
- Place
- Marne, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-25-235 · all PA-25-235s on the register
- Registration
- N8972Y · no longer on the register · serial 25-7405593
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT THE END OF A SWATH RUN WHILE ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF THE WAY THROUGH THE PROCEDURE TURN AROUND, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THE PILOT EXTENDED HIS GLIDE TO CLEAR POWERLINES AND WHEN HE FLARED TO LAND HE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH AIRSPEED TO STOP THE DESCENT. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD, THE MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. INVESTIGATION REVEALED MALFUNCTION DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE DRIVE TRAIN GEARS, SEVERE ENOUGH TO CAUSE TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE AIRCRAFT WAS USING AUTOGAS WITHOUT STC APPROVAL.
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; single-engine sea; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 7,004 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 7,001 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,095 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 14, 1987; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B2-C5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Howard City MI at 10:15 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 am from GRR, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.