Piper PA-32-260 accident near Byron Center, Michigan, April 20, 1987
On April 20, 1987 at about 12:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N5593J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Byron Center, Michigan (South Kent airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 people were 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
- April 20, 1987 · about 12:20 pm local time
- Place
- Byron Center, Michigan · South Kent · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N5593J · no longer on the register · serial 32-1060
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT FOLLOWING A PREFLIGHT INSPECTION AND ENGINE RUN-UP, HE ATTEMPTED A SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF ON THE 2070 FOOT TURF RWY. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, HE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF APRX 1035 FEET DOWN THE RWY BECAUSE HE HELD THE NOSE TOO HIGH AND HE WAS DRAGGING THE TAIL OF THE ACFT ON THE GROUND. THE ACFT THEN TRAVELED OFF THE RWY WHERE IT CONTACTED SCHRUBS.
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: 258 hours in all; 57 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 175 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 18, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C05 MI at 12:20 pm
- Destination: DTW Detroit MI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 13, 2,070 ft by 135 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 am from GRR, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.