Piper PA-22-160 accident near Saline, Michigan, October 16, 1992
On October 16, 1992 at about 4:22 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-160, registered N2945Z, was destroyed in an accident near Saline, Michigan (Noye Airstrip 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
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL AND AIRSPEED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 16, 1992 · about 4:22 pm local time
- Place
- Saline, Michigan · Noye Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-160 · all PA-22-160s on the register
- Registration
- N2945Z · no longer on the register · serial 22-6917
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT TOOK OFF TO THE NORTH AND REACHED AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET WHEN THE AIRPLANE APPEARED TO BE TURNING TO THE WEST. DURING THE TURN, IT ENTERED WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS A 45 DEGREE NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AND DESCENDED TO IMPACT WITH THE TERRAIN. WINDS AT A REPORTING STATION 4 NM FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE WERE REPORTED AS 280 DEGREE AT 25 KNOTS GUSTING TO 33 KNOTS. BOTH THE WEST AND EAST SIDES OF THE RUNWAY ARE LINED WITH TREES. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE AND FLIGHT CONTROLS FAILED TO REVEAL ANY FAILURE/MALFUNCTION.
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: 731 hours in all; 103 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,641 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 8, 1992; 103 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,600 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 25 knots, gusting 33
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,500 ft; not recorded at 1,700 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:49 pm from ARB, 4 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.
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.