Piper PA-23-250 accident near Plymouth, Michigan, June 5, 1995
On June 5, 1995 at about 7:57 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-250, registered N40540, was substantially damaged in an accident near Plymouth, Michigan (Mettetal-Canton Airport). It was an instructional 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 failure of the nose wheel collar assembly as a result of the loss of a bolt.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 1995 · about 7:57 pm local time
- Place
- Plymouth, Michigan · Mettetal-Canton Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250 · all PA-23-250s on the register
- Registration
- N40540 · no longer on the register · serial 27-7405276
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR REPORTED THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN NORMALLY ON ITS MAIN LANDING GEAR, BUT WHEN THE NOSE GEAR TOUCHED DOWN, THE AIRPLANE VEERED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT AND EXITED THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PRIVATE PILOT STUDENT, WHO WAS AT THE CONTROLS, ATTEMPTED TO BRING THE AIRPLANE BACK ONTO THE RUNWAY. DESPITE HIS USE OF THE RUDDER AND BRAKES, THE STUDENT WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE VEERED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT, CROSSED THE RUNWAY, AND EXITED THE RUNWAY ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE SLID SEVERAL FEET BEFORE COMING TO REST. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THE NOSE WHEEL COLLAR ASSEMBLY HAD SEPARATED. FURTHER EXAMINATION OF A SECTION OF THE FAILED COLLAR SHOWED FEATURES REPRESENTATIVE OF AN OVERSTRESS SEPARATION ON ONE OF THE ATTACH HOLES WHICH WAS STILL FASTENED TO THE INTACT HALF BY A BOLT. THE OTHER ATTACH HOLE CONTAINED ONLY SLIGHT INDICATIONS OF THREAD IMPRINTS IN THE HOLE BUT SHOWED NO EVIDENCE OF DEFORMATION. THE SHIMMY DAMPENER INSIDE THE COLLAR ALSO DISPLAYED 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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,800 hours in all; 42 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,678 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 14, 1995; 61 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-C4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: YIP Detroit MN at 8:40 pm
- Destination: 1D2
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,500 ft by 45 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.