Piper PA-24-250 accident near Millington, Michigan, July 1, 1990
On July 1, 1990 at about 9:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N5250P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Millington, Michigan (Jenson airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE PLANNING-DECISION, FAILURE TO OBTAIN LIFT-OFF AIRSPEED, AND FAILURE TO PERFORM AN ABORTED TAKEOFF. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT ARE THE UPHILL SLOPING RUNWAY, SOFT TURF, HIGH GRASS, AND COMPLACENCY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 1990 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Millington, Michigan · Jenson · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N5250P · no longer on the register · serial 24-282
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF FROM AN 1,800 FOOT GRASS STRIP WITH AN UPHILL SLOPE. THE TURF WAS SOFT, AND THE GRASS WAS 6-10 INCHES HIGH. THE AIRCRAFT LOAD CONSISTED OF THE PILOT, THREE ADULT PASSENGERS, AND 52 GALLONS OF FUEL. APPROXIMATELY THREE- QUARTERS DOWN THE RUNWAY THE AIRCRAFT HAD NOT REACHED LIFT-OFF AIRSPEED, AND THE PILOT THOUGHT IT WAS TOO LATE TO INITIATE AN ABORTED TAKEOFF. THE PILOT ROTATED THE AIRCRAFT AND RETRACTED THE LANDING GEAR TO ATTEMPT A TAKEOFF. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK SEVERAL TREES 8-10 FEET HIGH AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY, AND CRASHED INTO AN ADJACENT FARMER'S FIELD.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,938 hours in all; 1,141 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1,593 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 9:10 pm
- Destination: Y47 New Hudson MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,800 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 14 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from FNT, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.