Piper PA-34-220T accident near Marshall, Michigan, September 28, 1998
On September 28, 1998 at about 10:35 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-220T, registered N9267W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marshall, Michigan (Brooks Field). 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 pilot-in-command (CFI)'s inadequate supervision of the student, his not obtaining control of the airplane, and his lack of total experience in the type of operation. A factor was the dual student's 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
- September 28, 1998 · about 10:35 pm local time
- Place
- Marshall, Michigan · Brooks Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-220T · all PA-34-220Ts on the register
- Registration
- N9267W · no longer on the register · serial 3447016
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a simulated engine out landing, the student initiated an aborted landing. The airplane yawed and rolled right. The instructor pilot took control of the airplane; however, was unable to establish a climb and the airplane impacted the terrain. The instructor's written statement indicated no previous experience in giving dual instruction in multi-engine airplanes. An inspection of the airplane failed to reveal any pre-accident anomalies.
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: 575 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 175 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 521 as pilot in command; 255 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 497 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, August 13, 1998; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,570 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-KB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BTL Battle Creek MI at 9:55 pm
- Destination: RMY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:35 pm from RMY
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.