Piper PA-32-300 accident near Marquette, Michigan, March 27, 1999
On March 27, 1999 at about 5:44 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-300, registered N66BH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marquette, Michigan (Marquette County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions which resulted in his failure to maintain directional control. Factors associated with the accident were the gusty crosswind conditions and the taxiway sign which the airplane contacted.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 27, 1999 · about 5:44 pm local time
- Place
- Marquette, Michigan · Marquette County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N66BH · registry record · serial 32-7940067
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The takeoff was being conducted on runway 26 with local winds from 230 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 20 knots. The pilot reported the airplane veered off the left side of the runway during the takeoff roll, just prior to liftoff. He stated he reduced the throttle at which time he saw a taxiway sign in front of him so he advanced the throttle. He stated that the airplane cleared this sign, but contacted another sign. He stated he pulled the power back and the main landing gear caught in the snow spinning the airplane around.
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: 135 hours in all; 53 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 70 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1999; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MQT
- Destination: PLN Pellston MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 6,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 13 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:52 pm from MQT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI99LA117.