Piper PA-22-108 accident near Alanson, Michigan, June 1, 1997
On June 1, 1997, a Piper PA-22-108, registered N5739Z, was destroyed in an accident near Alanson, Michigan (Private Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
inadequate preflight by the pilot, which resulted in fuel starvation, due to an improper fuel tank selector position. A factor relating to the accident was: the pilot's improper inflight planning/decision, which resulted in his delay or inability to flare the airplane during the emergency landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 1, 1997
- Place
- Alanson, Michigan · Private Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-108 · all PA-22-108s on the register
- Registration
- N5739Z · no longer on the register · serial 22-9578
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was being ferried for a annual inspection that had expired. The pilot said he had full fuel in the right tank and 1/2 to 3/4 of fuel in the left tank at take off. At approximately 100 feet agl, the engine lost total power. The airplane was observed by a witness as banking hard to get back toward the airstrip. The pilot said that as the airplane approached the ground, he '. . . started a flare, but apparently just didn't have enough altitude for a recovery.' The pilot had the left fuel tank selected, but no fuel was found in the left tank. Both lift struts had failed at the fork ends, and both struds had compression bents in the middle.
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: 92 hours in all; 72 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,402 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Y30 Topinabee MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,640 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from PLN, 8 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.