Piper PA-28-140 accident near Bad Axe, Michigan, October 5, 1998
On October 5, 1998 at about 2:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N648FL, was destroyed in an accident near Bad Axe, Michigan (Huron County Memorial airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from the wires.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 5, 1998 · about 2:20 pm local time
- Place
- Bad Axe, Michigan · Huron County Memorial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N648FL · no longer on the register · serial 28-7125557
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to witnesses, the airplane entered the traffic pattern at about 1000 feet agl without making any radio calls. The airplane was seen at 75 to 100 feet agl on what appeared to be a downwind leg for runway 21, but runway 17 was available. The wind was from 140 degrees at 10 knots gusting to 15. The airplane's right wing impacted a utility pole at 19.5 feet agl and 12 feet below the wires, The first ground scar was 260 feet from the pole and the main wreckage was located 306 feet from the pole. The main wreckage was consumed by fire. The pilot was seated in the right seat and a non-pilot rated passenger was in the left front seat. The pilot was not a flight instructor. The inspection of the airplane revealed no pre-impact anomalies. Witnesses reported the pilot characteristically made all required and advisory radio calls when approaching or operating in the traffic pattern. The pilot had been diagnosed with mild to moderate coronary disease and had complained of tightness in the chest. The toxicology report indicated negative results for drugs.
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: 400 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,775 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 10, 1997; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BAX Sebewiang MI
- Destination: BAX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:39 pm from BAX
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.