Piper PA-28-181 accident near Troy, Michigan, October 6, 1990
On October 6, 1990 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N8211C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Troy, Michigan (Big Beaver Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT FAILED TO REFUEL THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 6, 1990 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Troy, Michigan · Big Beaver Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N8211C · no longer on the register · serial 28-8290137
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF THE ENGINE LOST POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE AIRPLANE LANDED ON THE EXTREME END OF THE TAKEOFF RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A CULVERT. POST CRASH INVESTIGATION REVEALED ONE FUEL TANK CONTAINED ONE PINT OF FUEL (RIGHT) AND THE OTHER TANK CONTAINED APPROXIMATELY 1/2 INCH IN IT (LEFT). THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED FOR THE 'RIGHT' FUEL TANK.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,020 hours in all; 365 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3BB at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,400 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:57 pm from DET, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.