Porterfield CP-55 accident near Tecumseh, Michigan, May 11, 1989
On May 11, 1989 at about 1:05 pm local time, a Porterfield CP-55, registered N32340, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tecumseh, Michigan. It was a personal 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
PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT OPERATINS, WHICH FAILED TO DETECT THE PRESENCE OF WATER CONTAMINATION IN THE FUEL SYSTEM, AND RESULTED IN THE SUBSTANTIAL LOSS OF POWER AND SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED SOFT, LOOSE SOIL DURING THE FORCED LANDING AND FLIPPED OVER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 1989 · about 1:05 pm local time
- Place
- Tecumseh, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Porterfield CP-55
- Registration
- N32340 · registry record · serial 798
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE IN NORMAL CRUISE FLIGHT AT ABOUT 800 FEET AGL, THE ENGINE STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND RUN ROUGH. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, AND SELECTED A NEWLY PLOWED FIELD FOR A FORCED LANDING SITE. THE AIRCRAFT'S MAIN LANDING GEAR SANK INTO THE SOFT SOIL DURING THE LANDING ROLL AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. POST-ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED WATER CONTAMINATION IN THE FUEL SYSTEM.
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: 170 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 114 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,736 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1988; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ADG Adrian MI at 12:55 pm
- Destination: 3TE Tecumseh MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:58 pm from JXN, 29 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.
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.