Piper PA-31-350 accident near Big Rapids, Michigan, October 19, 1988
On October 19, 1988 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-31-350, registered N300HF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Big Rapids, Michigan (Big Rapids airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- October 19, 1988 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Big Rapids, Michigan · Big Rapids · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350 · all PA-31-350s on the register
- Registration
- N300HF · registry record · serial 31-7812008
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE FAILED TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED AND ALTITUDE DURING AN IFR CIRCLE-TO-LAND MANEUVER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHEN HE THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO OVERSHOOT FINAL, HE TIGHTENED UP THE BANK. THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND THE LEFT WING IMPACTED ON THE ASPHALT RUNWAY. THE PILOT REDUCED POWER AND THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED TO THE GROUND ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, SUSTAINING NO FURTHER DAMAGE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,811 hours in all; 681 in this make and model; 148 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 1,074 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,303 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, October 14, 1988; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,500 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-F2BD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AMM Alma MI at 12:45 pm
- Destination: 77D Big Rapids MI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 32, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; scat at 700 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from GRR, 50 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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 N300HF 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.