Piper PA-28-181 accident near Senter, Michigan, July 10, 1993
On July 10, 1993 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N1630H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Senter, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INADEQUATE PRE-FLIGHT PLANNING. FACTORS RELATING TO THIS ACCIDENT ARE FUEL EXHAUSTION, UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ON WHICH TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING, AS WELL AS AN INADVERTENT STALL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 10, 1993 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Senter, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N1630H · no longer on the register · serial 28-7790317
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE AT CRUISE FLIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT 'RAN OUT OF GAS 10 MILES SHORT OF THE AIRPORT AND CRASHED INTO THICK WOODS.' THE PILOT IN COMMAND INADVERTENTLY STALLED THE AIRCRAFT AFTER THE ENGINE LOST TOTAL POWER. ON SITE INVESTIGATION FOUND NO FUEL IN THE FUEL TANKS, AND POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WITH THE AIRFRAME, ENGINE OR ACCESSORIES.
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: 214 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Berz Flying Service, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: UIZ Utica MI at 12:30 pm
- Destination: CMX Hancock MI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from CMX, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.