Piper PA-28-181 accident near Marquette, Michigan, June 16, 1991
On June 16, 1991 at about 3:30 am local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N5055F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marquette, Michigan (Marquette County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 16, 1991 · about 3:30 am local time
- Place
- Marquette, Michigan · Marquette County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N5055F · registry record · serial 28-7790084
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS CLEARED FOR AN ILS-BACKCOURSE APPROACH TO RUNWAY 26. WITNESSES AT THE AIRPORT OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT APPROACH THE AIRPORT FROM THE SOUTHEAST HEADING NORTHWEST. THEY SAW AIRCRAFT PASS OVER THE AIRPORT ON A NORTHEAST HEADING THEN TURN NORTH AND DESCEND INTO THE TERRAIN. THE PILOT DID NOT GIVE AN EXPLANATION FOR THE ACCIDENT. NOTHING WAS FOUND OF A MECHANICAL NATURE WHICH WOULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: 306 hours in all; 255 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: ESC Escanaba MI at 2:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 6,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 600 ft; not recorded at 600 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 3:32 am from MQT, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.