Piper PA-28-180 accident near Brooklyn, Michigan, June 18, 1995
On June 18, 1995 at about 9:14 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N5195L, was destroyed in an accident near Brooklyn, Michigan (Brooklyn-Shamrock airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot operating the airplane with a known deficiency. A factor was the pilot not maintaining control of the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 18, 1995 · about 9:14 pm local time
- Place
- Brooklyn, Michigan · Brooklyn-Shamrock · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N5195L · registry record · serial 28-4485
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE IN A HIGH PITCH-UP ATTITUDE, YAWING LEFT AND RIGHT. ONE WITNESS, AN AIRFRAME AND POWERPLANT MECHANIC, SAID THE ENGINE SOUNDED AS THOUGH IT WAS NOT PRODUCING FULL POWER. AFTER GAINING ABOUT 100 TO 200 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE AIRPLANE ROLLED INTO A 90 DEGREE BANK AND DESCENDED INTO SWAMPY TERRAIN. FLIGHT CONTROL CABLE CONTINUITY WAS ESTABLISHED. THE CARBURETOR HAD BROKEN AWAY FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND HAD BEEN SUBMERGED IN SWAMP WATER. EXAMINATION OF THE MAGNETOS REVEALED THE RIGHT MAGNETO TIMING HAD BEEN 8 DEGREES BEFORE TOP DEAD CENTER; THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED SETTING IS 26 DEGREES BEFORE TOP DEAD CENTER. THE LEFT MAGNETO TIMING WAS SET AT THIS NUMBER. THE RIGHT MAGNETO WAS RETIMED TO THE MANUFACTURER'S PRESCRIBED SETTING. THE ENGINE RUNUP WAS ACCOMPLISHED USING ITS MAGNETOS AND A FACTORY CARBURETOR. THE ENGINE AND CARBURETOR WERE EXAMINED AT THEIR RESPECTIVE MANUFACTURERS; BOTH WERE FOUND TO OPERATE WITHIN THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS.
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: 26 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: MWO Middleton OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 2,400 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:46 pm from JXN, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.