Piper PA-28R-180 accident near Benton Harbor, Michigan, July 3, 1987
On July 3, 1987 at about 6:35 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-180, registered N7681J, was destroyed in an accident near Benton Harbor, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured. 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 3, 1987 · about 6:35 pm local time
- Place
- Benton Harbor, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-180 · all PA-28R-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7681J · no longer on the register · serial 28R31082
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE THE AIRCRAFT WAS CLIMBING TO ALTITUDE THE PILOT TRIED TO DECREASE POWER TO CRUISE CLIMB BUT HAD TO REDUCE POWER MORE TO CONTROL THE PROPELLER RPM. THE PILOT DECREASED THE POWER ONCE AGAIN AND SHORTLY AFTER THE ENGINE STOPPED. THE PILOT THEN ATTEMPTED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A SOCCER FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS NOT MAINTAINED AND THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TREE, THEN TWO TELEPHONE POLES AND FINALLY CAME TO REST AGAINST A PARKED VEHICLE. POST ACC EXAM OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A FAILURE OF THE CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS ON CYLINDERS #3 & 4. NO REASON FOR THE LACK OF PROP CONTROL WAS FOUND.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 904 hours in all; 49 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 696 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,794 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 7, 1987; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BEH Benton Harbor MI at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:58 pm from BEH, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.