# Accident 19980613013429A: Piper PA23250, Albion, MI, June 13, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 13, 1998, 16:50 local time
- Place: Albion, MI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.2395° N, 84.7491° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2395&lon=-84.7491&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4617P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4617P-2014-10-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-23-250 (registry code 7102308, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA23250
- Reported engine: LYC O540A1B5
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI98LA200](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA200) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980613013429A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ACFT CRASHED INTO A WOODED AREA AFTER WITHNESSES SAID IT APPEARED TO LOSE POWER, BATTLE CREEK, MI (.19) ON JUNE 13, 1998, AT 1650 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA-23-250, N4617P, OPERATED BY A STUDENT PILOT, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE FROM IMPACT WITH TREES, THE TERRAIN, AND A POST IMPACT FIRE, DURING A FORCED LANDING 12 MILES NORTH OF ALBION, MICHIGAN. THE PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES, WHILE HIS PASSENGER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE PILOT SAID THAT THE RIGHT ENGINE SUFFERED A LOSS OF POWER, AND HE WAS ATTEMPTING A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD WHEN THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREE TOPS. THE PERSONAL 14 CFR PART 91 FLIGHT WAS OPERATING IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS ON FILE. THE LOCAL FLIGHT DEPARTED MARSHALL, MICHIGAN, ABOUT 1640.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    (.4)THE TWIN ENGINE AIRPLANE SUFFERED A LOSS OF RIGHT ENGINE POWER IN CRUISE FLIGHT ABOUT 10 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF.. THE PILOT, WHO HELD A STUDENT PILOT CERTIFICATE, SAID HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN FLIGHT AND A FORCED LANDING WAS INITIATED. ON APPROACH, THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES, DEPARTED CONTROLLED FLIGHT AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN.  A POST ACCIDENT FIRE IGNITED.  THE PILOT TOLD AN FAA INSPECTOR THAT THE LOSS OF POWER WAS DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.  AN INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT THERE WAS ONLY  UNUSABLE FUEL REMAINING IN THE RIGHT WING.  IT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT THE RIGHT ENGINE PROPELLER WAS NOT FEATHERED.                                                   (-23) ON JUNE 13, 1998, AT 1650 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA-23-250, N4617P, OPERATED BY A STUDENT PILOT, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE FROM IMPACT WITH TREES, THE TERRAIN, AND A POST IMPACT FIRE, DURING A FORCED LANDING 12 MILES NORTH OF ALBION, MICHIGAN.  THE PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES, WHILE HIS PASSENGER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES.  THE PILOT SAID THAT THE RIGHT ENGINE SUFFERED A LOSS OF POWER, AND HE WAS ATTEMPTING A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD WHEN THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREE TOPS.  THE PERSONAL 14 CFR PART 91 FLIGHT WAS OPERATING IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS ON FILE.  THE LOCAL FLIGHT DEPARTED MARSHALL, MICHIGAN, ABOUT 1640.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI98LA200](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA200), Jun 13, 1998: Piper PA-23-250 (N4617P), Albion, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's improper preflight planning/preparation and his not refueling the airplane to avoid fuel exhaustion. Factors were the pilot's lack of certification, his not feathering the engine, and the…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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