Piper PA-34-220T accident near Detroit, Michigan, November 12, 1986
On November 12, 1986 at about 6:00 am local time, a Piper PA-34-220T, registered N8161K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Detroit, Michigan (Detroit Metro Wayne airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- November 12, 1986 · about 6:00 am local time
- Place
- Detroit, Michigan · Detroit Metro Wayne · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-220T · all PA-34-220Ts on the register
- Registration
- N8161K · registry record · serial 348233109
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
UPON LANDING AT DETROIT METROPOLITAN AIRPORT, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS INSTRUCTED BY THE TOWER TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN ON RUNWAY 3C OR TAXIWAY J, AND TAXI TO BUTLER AVIATION. THE PILOT THEN TURNED ONTO WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS TAXIWAY J, BUT WAS ACTUALLY A PAVED AREA BETWEEN TAXIWAYS. WHEN HE REALIZED HE WAS NOT ON A TAXIWAY, HE TOLD THE TOWER AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAXI STRAIGHT AHEAD IF POSSIBLE AND HE WOULD BE ON THE TAXIWAY. AFTER MOVING FORWARD, A NUMBER OF FEET, THE LEFT MAIN GEAR ENCOUNTERED AN UNMARKED TRENCH, APPROXIMATELY 1 FOOT WIDE BY 15 FEET LONG AND ABOUT 4 INCHES DEEP, TEARING OFF THE LEFT MAIN GEAR.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,221 hours in all; 512 in this make and model; 149 in the last 90 days; 3,091 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 6, 1986; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,570 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-KB (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Olson Flight Services
The flight
- Departed from: DET Detroit MI at 5:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 8,700 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:52 pm from DTW
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.