Piper PA-24-250 accident near Owosso, Michigan, August 15, 1992
On August 15, 1992 at about 11:58 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N5749P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Owosso, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL STARVATION WHICH RESULTED FROM THE PILOT HAVING SELECTED THE WRONG FUEL TANK. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE POOR AIRCRAFT PREFLIGHT AND THE UNRELIABLE FUEL QUANTITY GAUGES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 15, 1992 · about 11:58 pm local time
- Place
- Owosso, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N5749P · no longer on the register · serial 24-824
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WAS EXPERIENCED ON SHORT FINAL APPROACH. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON A HIGHWAY AS THERE WERE TREES AND HOUSES ALONG THE APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED POWERLINES ALONG THE ROAD AND DESCENDED TO IMPACT WITH THE TERRAIN. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THE RIGHT FUEL TANK (TANK WHICH WAS SELECTED) WAS EMPTY AND THE LEFT FUEL TANK WAS 1/2 FULL. THE FUEL QUANTITY INDICATORS SHOWED THE RIGHT TANK FULL AND THE LEFT TANK JUST ABOVE EMPTY.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 560 hours in all; 60 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 29, 1992; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 14 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft; not recorded at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from FNT, 17 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.