Piper PA-28-180 accident near Genesee, Michigan, March 2, 1991
On March 2, 1991, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N8026W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Genesee, Michigan (Duford 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
POSITIVE LIFTOFF AIRSPEED WAS NOT ATTAINED, AN ABORTED TAKEOFF WAS NOT PERFORMED WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL/MUSH DESCENT TO THE TERRAIN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE A DARK RAINING NIGHT, SOFT, WET GRASS RUNWAY AND A DOWNWIND SURFACE WIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 2, 1991
- Place
- Genesee, Michigan · Duford · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N8026W · registry record · serial 28-2092
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF DOWNWIND FROM A SOFT, WET, 2200-FT STRIP ON A DARK NIGHT WITH RAIN FALLING. HE WAS UNABLE TO ATTAIN POSITIVE LIFTOFF/CLIMB AIRSPEED AND THE AIRPLANE MUSHED BACK TO THE TERRAIN.
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: 300 hours in all; 49 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: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hangar One Aero Club, INC.
The flight
- Destination: C19 Holland MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,090 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 160° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,100 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.