Piper PA-28-181 accident near Ann Arbor, Michigan, March 19, 1995
On March 19, 1995 at about 8:02 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N4385M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ann Arbor, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of the mechanic to close the drain valve after changing oil, resulting in complete loss of engine oil. A factor was the soft terrain, which resulted in the nose wheel digging in and the airplane nosing over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 19, 1995 · about 8:02 pm local time
- Place
- Ann Arbor, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N4385M · registry record · serial 28-8590025
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
TEN MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF THE OIL PRESSURE DROPPED TO ZERO AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SEIZE, THE PILOT PULLED MIXTURE TO IDLE-CUTOFF, AND PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD. THE NOSE WHEEL DUG INTO THE SOFT GROUND, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE OIL DRAIN VALVE WAS FOUND IN THE OPEN POSITION, WITH FRESH OIL ON THE AIRPLANE. THE MECHANIC STATED HE HAD PLACED A PAPER PLUG IN THE DRAIN TO PREVENT DRIPS, AND FAILED TO CLOSE THE VALVE.
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: 399 hours in all; 271 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 332 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 18, 1995; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,558 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ARB MI at 7:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:58 pm from ARB, 2 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.