Piper PA-28-140 accident near Flint, Michigan, April 7, 1999
On April 7, 1999 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N6454R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Flint, Michigan (Bishop International Arpt airport). 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 loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor associated with the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 7, 1999 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Flint, Michigan · Bishop International Arpt
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N6454R · no longer on the register · serial 28-21639
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the flight instructor, while on approach to runway 23, the dual student reduced engine power in order to lose some altitude. When the airplane reached the desired altitude, the throttle was advanced but no response was noted from the engine. The instructor took control of the airplane, attempted to troubleshoot the loss of engine power, and then elected to land the airplane in a parking lot north of the airport. Approximately 30 feet above ground level, it collided with a light pole, impacted the terrain, and came to rest on an embankment near an exit ramp for I-75. Examination of the wreckage failed to reveal any apparent preaccident anomalies with the airplane or its engine.
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; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,656 hours in all; 142 in this make and model; 63 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 10,303 as pilot in command; 785 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 21, 1998; 272 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3DA Flushing MI at 10:00 pm
- Destination: FNT MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 4,291 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 13 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:10 pm from FNT, 1 miles away
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.