Piper PA-28-180 accident near Lansing, Michigan, September 25, 1992
On September 25, 1992 at about 2:30 am local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N5122S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lansing, Michigan (Capital City airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PLANNING AND DECISION-MAKING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 25, 1992 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Lansing, Michigan · Capital City · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N5122S · registry record · serial 28-7105172
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED HE WAS OPERATING AT NIGHT AT AN UNFAMLIAR AIRPORT. HE RECEIVED PROGRESSIVE TAXI INSTRUCTIONS TO THE ACTIVE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE WAS STILL ON THE TAXIWAY WHEN THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER CLEARED THE PILOT FOR IMMEDIATE TAKEOFF AND ADVISED HIM OF TRAFFIC ON A TWO MILE FINAL. THE PILOT REPORTED THE PILOT-RATED PASSENGER WAS URGING HIM TO HURRY, AND HE APPLIED FULL THROTTLE. THE PILOT STATED HE FELT SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT, '...BUT I COULDN'T PUT MY FINGER ON IT.' WHEN HE REALIZED THE AIRPLANE WAS STILL ON THE TAXIWAY AND NOT THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE. THE AIRPLANE RAN OFF THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY, AND CAME TO REST IN A DITCH.
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: 381 hours in all; 182 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,373 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 7, 1991
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LAN at 2:30 am
- Destination: 2G5 Detroit MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 5,000 ft by 120 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 090° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:25 am from LAN, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.