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Accidents · NTSB CHI91LA012 · Final report

Piper PA-22-135 accident near Mason, Michigan, October 14, 1990

On October 14, 1990 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-135, registered N2600A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mason, Michigan (Mason Jewett airport). 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

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT IS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN THE ACCIDENT TYPE AIRPLANE.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
October 14, 1990 · about 3:00 pm local time
Place
Mason, Michigan · Mason Jewett · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Piper PA-22-135 · all PA-22-135s on the register
Registration
N2600A · no longer on the register · serial 882
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND IN WINDS GUSTING FROM 10 TO 20 KNOTS, WITH AN 80 DEGREE CROSSWIND COMPONENT. HE SAID THAT HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND THAT THE AIRPLANE WEATHER VANED INTO THE WIND, CAUSING THE NOSE GEAR TO COLLAPSE.

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: 79 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 29 as pilot in command
  • 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: 1,950 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2 (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 27, 3,500 ft by 75 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 190° at 10 knots, gusting 20
  • Visibility: 15 statute miles
  • Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
  • Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1
Passengers1

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.