Piper PA-28 accident near Birmingham, Michigan, March 11, 1989
On March 11, 1989 at about 8:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-28, registered N4379X, was destroyed in an accident near Birmingham, Michigan (Oakland-Troy airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN UNDETERMINED FUEL SYSTEM BLOCKAGE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF A SUITABLE FORCED LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 11, 1989 · about 8:10 pm local time
- Place
- Birmingham, Michigan · Oakland-Troy · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28 · all PA-28s on the register
- Registration
- N4379X · no longer on the register · serial 28-7625037
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WAS EXPERIENCED DURING THE TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 100 FT AGL. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE DURING WHICH THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH ROUGH TERRAIN AND RAILROAD TRACKS. THE AIRPLANE'S IGNITION SYSTEM WAS OPERATIONALLY CORRECT. THERE WAS SUFFICIENT FUEL ON BOARD THE AIRPLANE FOR THIS FLIGHT. INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANES FUEL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM REVEALED IT TO BE OPERATIONALLY CORRECT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE CARBURETOR FLOAT BOWL WHICH CONTAINED NO FUEL.
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: 336 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 208 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,961 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 3, 1988; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 7D2 Troy MI at 8:06 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,855 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.