Piper PA-28-181 accident near Davison, Michigan, September 10, 1993
On September 10, 1993 at about 5:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N38602, was substantially damaged in an accident near Davison, Michigan (Davison-Athelone Williams airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN INADEQUATE FUEL AND FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 10, 1993 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Davison, Michigan · Davison-Athelone Williams · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N38602 · no longer on the register · serial 287790568
- 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 AIRPLANE'S ENGINE LOST POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. HE MADE AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING ON A RAILROAD RIGHT-OF-WAY. THE PILOT REPORTED TO AN FAA INSPECTOR THAT THE ENGINE LOST POWER DUE TO FUEL MISMANAGEMENT AND FAILURE TO LEAN THE MIXTURE.
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: 97 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 40 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,134 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 19, 1993; 84 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Maxair, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: ATW Appleton WI at 3:10 pm
- Destination: YZR Sarnia, Ontario
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 26, 3,526 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 12 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; not recorded at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:34 pm from FNT, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.