Piper PA-32RT-300T accident near Pullman, Michigan, September 17, 1992
On September 17, 1992 at about 2:47 pm local time, a Piper PA-32RT-300T, registered N39652, was destroyed in an accident near Pullman, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S EXCEEDING THE DESIGN STRESS LIMITS OF THE AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 17, 1992 · about 2:47 pm local time
- Place
- Pullman, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32RT-300T PA-32RT-30 · all PA-32RT-300Ts on the register
- Registration
- N39652 · no longer on the register · serial 32R-7887133
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DEPARTED ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN ON A ROUTE WHICH HE HAD BEEN ADVISED CONTAINED FORECAST AND REPORTED THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF ICING AND TURBULENCE. AT 15,000 FEET HE REPORTED ENCOUNTERING RAIN AND ICING AND REQUESTED A LOWER ALTITUDE. AFTER BEING CLEARED TO 13,000 FEET THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO ACCELERATE TO 6,250 FEET PER MINUTE ON RADAR DATA. SHORTLY AFTER THIS THE FUSELAGE WAS OBSERVED BY A GROUND WITNESS TO DESCEND OUT OF A CLOUD WITH NO WINGS OR TAIL. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE FAILED TO REVEAL ANY PRE-EXISTING MECHANICAL ANOMALIES.
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: 500 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,454 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 10, 1992; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MKE Milwaukee WI at 2:00 pm
- Destination: DUJ Du Bois PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft; scat at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from GRR, 42 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.