Piper PA-28-140 accident near Napoleon, Michigan, July 18, 1998
On July 18, 1998 at about 8:07 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N54R, was destroyed in an accident near Napoleon, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot inadequate pre-flight planning. Factors in this accident were the airplane's weight and balance limitations had been exceeded by the pilot and an improper top overhaul of the engine's cylinder by the mechanic.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 18, 1998 · about 8:07 pm local time
- Place
- Napoleon, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N54R · registry record · serial 28-1725135
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said the airplane used about 2/3 of the 2,550-foot runway before rotating for liftoff. He said the airplane felt '...sluggish...' as it passed over the departure runway's threshold. During the initial climb out the airplane's left wing struck an antenna that was attached to a building. The airplane descended below power lines and collided with a fence and road sign before striking the ground. The on-scene investigation revealed the airplane was 100-pounds over its maximum gross takeoff weight. The engine had received a top overhaul 2 days before the accident. The engine examination revealed low compression on the number 3 cylinder. Further examination of this cylinder showed its exhaust and intake valve heads were below the manufacturer's minimum diameter. The valve heads and seats were not ground to the manufacturer's specification and the valve stem diameter was below the manufacturer's size.
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: 181 hours in all; 45 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,396 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 5, 1998; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 3NP
- Destination: 3NP
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:25 pm from JXN, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.