Piper PA-22-150 accident near Petersburg, Michigan, September 8, 1992
On September 8, 1992 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N3743P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Petersburg, Michigan (Gradolph airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND DURING FINAL APPROACH. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SUNGLARE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 1992 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Petersburg, Michigan · Gradolph · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N3743P · registry record · serial 22-3463
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN AFTER STRIKING ELECTRICAL POWER TRANSMISSION WIRES DURING FINAL APPROACH TO AN AIRPORT. A PILOT WHO LANDED JUST BEFORE THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE REPORTED THE RUNWAY WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE BECAUSE OF SUNGLARE. IN A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION THE ACCIDENT PILOT STATED HE DID NOT REMEMBER THE ACCIDENT BUT DOES REMEMBER THE SUN BEING IN HIS EYES DURING THE APPROACH. THE AIRPORT OPERATOR SAW THE ACCIDENT AND WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO REACH THE AIRPLANE AFTER IMPACT. THE PILOT ASKED THE OPERATOR WHAT HE HAD HIT. THE OPERATOR TOLD THE PILOT HE HAD STRUCK WIRES. THE PILOT INDICATED HE DID NOT KNOW THE POWERLINES WERE THERE.
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
- Flight time: 334 hours in all; 140 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 188 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 1900
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 88G
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,380 ft by 110 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:45 pm from ARB, 20 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.
Other NTSB records under N3743P the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.