Piper PA-28-151 accident near Drummond Island, Michigan, June 7, 1999
On June 7, 1999 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered N246MA, was destroyed in an accident near Drummond Island, Michigan (Drummond Island airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the altitude/clearance not obtained/maintained and the inadequate planning/decision by the pilot-in-command. The exceeded aircraft performance was an additional cause. The unfavorable wind and trees were contributing factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 1999 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Drummond Island, Michigan · Drummond Island · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N246MA · no longer on the register · serial 28-7615170
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane impacted trees and terrain during climbout from the Drummond Island Airport (Y66), Drummond Island, Michigan. An automatic weather surface observing system, located approximately 275 magnetic degrees and 35 nmi from Y66, reported at 1615: wind 230 at 13 knots gusting to 23 knots from 190 degrees variable 250 degrees. No engine or airframe anomalies were found.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,093 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 28, 1998; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Y66 Drummond Island MI at 8:15 pm
- Destination: CIU Sault Ste Marie MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 15 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,200 ft; scat at 3,200 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:15 pm from CIU, 35 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.