Piper PA-18A accident near Grand Haven, Michigan, April 1, 1996
On April 1, 1996 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-18A, registered N454Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grand Haven, Michigan (Grand Haven 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
failure of the dual student to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing, and inadequate supervision by the flight instructor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 1, 1996 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Grand Haven, Michigan · Grand Haven · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18A · all PA-18As on the register
- Registration
- N454Q · registry record · serial 18-4902
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After touchdown from a left wing low landing, the student pilot, who was flying the airplane from the front seat, allowed the airplane to veer left. The instructor pilot, who was in the back seat, took control of the airplane, added full power, and pulled back on the stick in an attempt to avoid a runway light. The airplane cleared the light at a slow airspeed; however, its right wing immediately dipped and struck the terrain. The airplane then spun around and came to a stop. Examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies which could have contributed to the accident.
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: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 800 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 800 as pilot in command; 150 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,353 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 25, 1996; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,752 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3GM at 3:25 pm
- Destination: MKG Muskegon MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°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.