Piper PA-20 accident near Lapeer, Michigan, March 30, 1993
On March 30, 1993 at about 10:05 pm local time, a Piper PA-20, registered N7732K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lapeer, Michigan (Dupont-Lapeer Apt 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 FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 30, 1993 · about 10:05 pm local time
- Place
- Lapeer, Michigan · Dupont-Lapeer Apt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-20 · all PA-20s on the register
- Registration
- N7732K · registry record · serial 20-555
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THE WINDS WERE LIGHT WHEN HE ARRIVED AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. HE STATED HE 'LANDED ON RUNWAY 36 WITH A NORMAL LANDING. ROLL OUT WAS NORMAL FOR APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET. AIRPLANE THEN STARTED A GROUND LOOP TO THE LEFT...RIGHT RUDDER AND...BRAKE DID NOT CORRECT... .' THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED THERE WAS NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 218 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 113 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,881 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 2, 1993; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 77G Marlette MI at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,605 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 18 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 N7732K 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.