Piper PA28-140D accident near Flushing, Michigan, April 30, 1988
On April 30, 1988 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Piper PA28-140D, registered N5965U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Flushing, Michigan (Dalton airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people 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
- April 30, 1988 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Flushing, Michigan · Dalton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28-140D · all PA28-140Ds on the register
- Registration
- N5965U · no longer on the register · serial 287125144
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH FOR LANDING ON A SHORT, GRASS STRIP, THE PILOT SAID SHE ENCOUNTERED SUNGLARE WHICH RESTRICTED HER VISIBILITY SUCH THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO JUDGE THE LANDING. TOUCHDOWN OCCURRED WITH INSUFFICIENT RUNWAY REMAINING TO STOP THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT LEFT THE RUNWAY AT THE DEPARTURE END, STRUCK A TREE WITH THE LEFT WING, AND CAME TO REST IN A STAND OF TREES ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE RUNWAY. A NEARBY WX OBSERVATION STATION INDICATED A 6 KNOT TAILWIND FOR THE RWY.
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: 86 hours in all; 86 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 33 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,508 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 17, 1987; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FNT Flint MI
- Destination: 3DA Flushing MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,850 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 140 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:25 pm from FNT, 8 miles away
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.