Piper PA-24-260 accident near Flint, Michigan, July 14, 1991
On July 14, 1991 at about 5:47 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-260, registered N8803P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Flint, Michigan (Bishop Int. 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
PROPELLER PITCH CHANGE MECHANISM SHEARED. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE POWERPLANT VIBRATION AND PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT NOT POSSIBLE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 1991 · about 5:47 pm local time
- Place
- Flint, Michigan · Bishop Int.
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-260 · all PA-24-260s on the register
- Registration
- N8803P · registry record · serial 24-4286
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THAT WHILE BEING VECTORED ON FINAL APPROACH ABOUT 5 MILES OUT, THE AIRCRAFT DEVELOPED A SEVERE VIBRATION. AN EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED AND A LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED ON THE AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY WHICH RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED FAILURE OF THE PITCH CHANGE KNOBS ON ONE PROPELLER BLADE.
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: 342 hours in all; 87 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 224 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 5, 1990; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-D4A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: APN Alpena MI at 4:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 7,199 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 9:32 pm from FNT, 1 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.