Piper PA-28-151 accident near Allendale, Michigan, October 6, 1993
On October 6, 1993 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered N8339C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Allendale, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, AFTER ENCOUNTERING UNFAVORABLE WINDS AND A LOW FUEL LEVEL, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE UNFAVORABLE WIND WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 6, 1993 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Allendale, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N8339C · registry record · serial 28-7615089
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED STRONGER WINDS THAN HE HAD EXPECTED DURING A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. HE WAS 20 MINUTES PAST HIS ESTIMATED TIME EN ROUTE, WHEN HE WAS STILL 50 MILES SHORT OF HIS INTENDED DESTINATION. HE STATED THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND STOPPED, WHEN BOTH FUEL GAUGES READ ZERO. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE ON A RURAL ROAD. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A STEEL REINFORCED MAIL BOX DURING THE LANDING ROLL.
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: 63 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 28 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,728 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 27, 1993; 112 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Y84 Mackinac Island MI at 8:20 pm
- Destination: 08C Jenison MI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from GRR, 20 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.