Piper PA-30 accident near Big Rapids, Michigan, May 23, 1991
On May 23, 1991 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-30, registered N7209Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Big Rapids, Michigan (Roben-Hood airport). It was an instructional 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
EXCESSIVE APPLICATION OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS BY THE STUDENT PILOT. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT IS DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 1991 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Big Rapids, Michigan · Roben-Hood · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-30 · all PA-30s on the register
- Registration
- N7209Y · registry record · serial 30-235
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE RATED PILOT WAS ON A DUAL MULTIENGINE INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT. ON A PRACTICE SOFT-FIELD TAKEOFF THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO PULL TO THE LEFT WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS ROTATED. THE STUDENT CORRECTED WITH APPLICATION OF RIGHT RUDDER AND AILERON. THE RIGHT WING OF THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE RUNWAY.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,092 hours in all; 142 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 1,853 as pilot in command; 874 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 3,725 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,300 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 12,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from GRR, 50 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI91LA165.