Piper PA-28-140 accident near Traverse, Michigan, July 20, 1994
On July 20, 1994, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N8255N, was destroyed in an accident near Traverse, Michigan (Cherry Capital Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
poor preflight planning and preparation by the pilot for not calculating the weight and balance of his airplane before departure. Factors associated with the accident were the airplane's weight and balance was exceeded, and the pilot's lack of recent experience in the accident airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 20, 1994
- Place
- Traverse, Michigan · Cherry Capital Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N8255N · no longer on the register · serial 28-25466
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING INITIAL CLIMBOUT FROM TAKEOFF A PASSENGER STATED HE FELT THE AIRPLANE 'BUMP' SEVERAL TIMES. WHEN ATC TOLD THE PILOT TO TURN, THE PASSENGER SAID HE FELT MORE BUMPING AS THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED INTO THE TREES. GROUND WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE PITCHING UP AND DOWN WHILE FLYING LOW. THEY STATED THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS RUNNING AT FULL POWER. THE ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED FULL NOSE UP TRIM, A TAKEOFF WEIGHT 196 POUNDS OVER CERTIFICATED GROSS WEIGHT. THE ENGINE WAS TEST RUN AT THE MANUFACTURER. THE ENGINE PRODUCED 100 PERCENT OF RATED POWER DURING THE TEST RUN.
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: 103 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 69 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,301 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 5, 1994; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Cherry Capital Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: MI
- Destination: CVX Charlevoix MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 14,000 ft; scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
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.