Piper PA-38-112 accident near Gaylord, Michigan, November 16, 1986
On November 16, 1986 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2357E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gaylord, Michigan (Otsego County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person 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
- November 16, 1986 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Gaylord, Michigan · Otsego County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2357E · no longer on the register · serial 3878A0447
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT LANDED ON A CLOSED RWY AND THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A SNOWBANK. A NOTAM HAD BEEN ISSUED THREE DAYS PRIOR, CLOSING THE RWY, HOWEVER, THE PLT STATED THAT HE HAD NOT CHECKED NOTOMS PRIOR TO DEPARTING TRAVERSE CITY. A PLT OF ANOTHER ACFT, WHO REPORTED BEING ADVISED THROUGH UNICOM THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT TO LAND ON ANY RWY EVEN THOUGH RWY 18 WAS CLOSED BY NOTAM. THIS PLT REPORTED HEARING N2357E ANNOUNCE FINAL FOR RWY 18. THE ARPT UNICOM OPERATOR REPORTED NO COMMNICATIONS WITH N2357E SINCE THE ACFT WAS 25 MILES FROM GAYLORD AND WAS GIVEN LOCAL WINDS AND ALTIMETER ONLY.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 800 hours in all; 14 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,170 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, October 2, 1986; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TVC Traverse City MI at 2:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,001 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,700 ft; not recorded at 2,700 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.