Piper PA-24-180 accident near Gaylord, Michigan, December 19, 1992
On December 19, 1992 at about 10:05 am local time, a Piper PA-24-180, registered N6185P, was destroyed in an accident near Gaylord, Michigan. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND EXCEEDED THE AIRPLANE'S DESIGN STRESS LIMITS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 19, 1992 · about 10:05 am local time
- Place
- Gaylord, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-180 · all PA-24-180s on the register
- Registration
- N6185P · no longer on the register · serial 1287
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND OBTAINED A WEATHER BRIEF WHICH INCLUDED ICING PRECAUTIONS. THE AIRPLANE TOOK OFF IN NIGHT, IMC, WHICH INCLUDED FREEZING RAIN, SLEET AND SNOW FALLING AROUND THE AIRPORT. TEN MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE REPORTED 'CARB ICE' AND DISAPPEARED FROM RADAR. THE AIRPLANE BROKE APART IN FLIGHT. THERE WERE INDICATIONS OF ENGINE POWER AT IMPACT AND WITNESS ACCOUNTS OF LOUD, EVEN ENGINE NOISE. NO MECHANICAL DISCREPANCY WAS FOUND.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,850 hours in all; 1,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,953 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 18, 1993; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GLR at 9:55 am
- Destination: OI03 St. Clairsville OH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 170° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,600 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:48 am from PLN, 35 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.