Piper PA-32RT-300T accident near Newberry, Michigan, January 22, 1994
On January 22, 1994 at about 6:48 pm local time, a Piper PA-32RT-300T, registered N39505, was destroyed in an accident near Newberry, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
an engine fire which started as the result of an oil leak around the engine oil filter.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 22, 1994 · about 6:48 pm local time
- Place
- Newberry, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32RT-300T PA-32RT-30 · all PA-32RT-300Ts on the register
- Registration
- N39505 · no longer on the register · serial 32R7887097
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, WHILE IN A CLIMB TO ASSIGNED ALTITUDE, THE PROPELLER BEGAN TO OVERSPEED. THE PILOT ELECTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT HE HAD JUST DEPARTED. SMOKE BEGAN TO FILL THE COCKPIT, AND THE ENGINE STOPPED. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A WOODED AREA. THE AIRPLANE WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE AFTER THE LANDING. THE INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THERE WAS AN INTENSE FIRE IN THE ENGINE ACCESSORY SECTION NEAR THE TURBOCHARGER. THE OIL AND OIL FILTER HAD BEEN CHANGED THREE DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE ONLY FLIGHT THE AIRPLANE HAD MADE SINCE THE OIL CHANGE WAS A 2 HOUR FLIGHT THE MORNING OF THE ACCIDENT. THE OIL FILTER IS LOCATED ON THE ACCESSORY CASE NEAR THE TURBOCHARGER.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 750 hours in all; 270 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 660 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,360 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1993; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ERY at 6:45 pm
- Destination: 08C Jenison MI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 14,000 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: -15°F (-26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:00 pm from YAM, 45 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.