Piper PA-38-112 accident near West Branch, Michigan, September 9, 1994
On September 9, 1994 at about 2:40 am local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N4286E, was substantially damaged in an accident near West Branch, Michigan (Thompson Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper preflight planning in estimating the takeoff distance. The tall, wet grass on the runway was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 1994 · about 2:40 am local time
- Place
- West Branch, Michigan · Thompson Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N4286E · no longer on the register · serial 38-780530
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF AT A PRIVATE FIELD ON AN 1,800 FOOT LONG RUNWAY. THE RUNWAY SURFACE CONSISTED OF WET GRASS ABOUT SIX INCHES TALL. HE SAID HE CALCULATED THE TAKEOFF DISTANCE ON A GRASS RUNWAY TO BE 880 FEET. ABOUT THREE FOURTHS OF THE WAY DOWN THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT FELT THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT GOING TO BECOME AIRBORNE. HE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF AND THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE END OF THE RUNWAY, SUSTAINING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
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: 163 hours in all; 101 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 163 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,876 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 6, 1994; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Westwind Aviation
The flight
- Destination: 09G Mason MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 1,800 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 250° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 am from MBS, 48 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.