Ryan PT-22A accident near Greenville, Michigan, August 29, 1990
On August 29, 1990 at about 10:50 pm local time, a Ryan PT-22A, registered N5481L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greenville, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
SEPARATION OF A LOOSE CYLINDER ASSEMBLY IN FLIGHT, AND UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED DURING THE EXECUTION OF A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 29, 1990 · about 10:50 pm local time
- Place
- Greenville, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ryan PT-22A
- Registration
- N5481L · registry record · serial 1861
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MISFIRE. WHEN HE REDUCED POWER TO IDLE, THE MISFIRING STOPPED, BUT WHEN HE ADVANCED THE THROTTLE TO CRUISE POWER THE ENGINE MISFIRED SEVERAL MORE TIMES AND THE NUMBER 1 CYLINDER DEPARTED THE ENGINE. THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING INTO A FIELD CONTAINING COR WHICH WAS 6-8 FEET HIGH. THE AIRCRAFT NOSED-OVER ON LANDING ROLL AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED EVIDENCE THAT THE NUMBER 1 CYLINDER WAS LOOSE PRIOR TO SEPARATION.
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: 1,691 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1,092 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,245 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 30, 1989; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,885 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Kinner R-55 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6D6 Greenville MI at 10:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Observation at 11:29 pm from GRR, 20 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 N5481L 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.