Piper PA-32-260 accident near Moran, Michigan, September 5, 1992
On September 5, 1992, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N5572J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Moran, Michigan. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER SELECTION OF FUEL TANK RESULTING IN FUEL STARVATION. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S ENCOUNTER WITH UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 1992
- Place
- Moran, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N5572J · no longer on the register · serial 32-988
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING NORMAL CRUISE THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE AND SELECTED A FIELD FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING. DURING TOUCHDOWN THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE TERRAIN. SUBSEQUENT TO THE ACCIDENT NO USABLE FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANK SELECTED.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 411 hours in all; 101 in this make and model; 124 in the last 90 days; 56 in the last 30 days; 335 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,128 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1992; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 83D St. Ignace MI
- Destination: 83D
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,500 ft; not recorded at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.