Piper PA-18 accident near Roscommon, Michigan, July 8, 1989
On July 8, 1989 at about 11:06 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N2336J, was destroyed in an accident near Roscommon, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LOSS OF CONTROL IN FLIGHT WHILE MANEUVERING AND THE FAILURE TO PERFORM REMEDIAL ACTION BY THE PIC.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 8, 1989 · about 11:06 pm local time
- Place
- Roscommon, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N2336J · no longer on the register · serial 18-7909108
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN DURING AN OUT OF CONTROL DESCENT. WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT DESCRIBED THE AIRPLANE AS SUDDENLY CLIMBING BEFORE DROPPING ONE WING AND SPINNING INTO THE GROUND. ONE PILOT RATED WITNESS WHO WAS IN ANOTHER AIRPLANE DESCRIBED A MULTIPLE TURN SPIN PRIOR TO IMPACT. THE PILOT HAD BEEN TREATED AND RELEASED FOR A THERMAL INJURY (SUNBURN) AT A HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM SIX DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT HAD JUST SPENT ANOTHER FULL DAY EXPOSED TO THE SUN CANOEING WITH FRIENDS. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO MECHANICAL DEFECTS WITH EITHER THE AIRFRAME OR POWERPLANT.
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: 502 hours in all; 87 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 55D Grayling Aaf MI at 10:50 pm
- Destination: 80D Clare County MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from HTL, 10 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.
Other NTSB records under N2336J the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.