19981124032499A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-28R-200 · Hancock, MI · November 24, 1998

Date: November 24, 1998 · 20:50 local
Place: Hancock, MI
Airport: Houghton County Memorial
Phase of flight: Ground Taxi, Other Airplane
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N5256T
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI99LA038
Reported as: Piper PA28R200
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 340 total

N5256TRegistration cancelled Aug 16, 2013 · Piper PA-28R-200S/N 28R-7235207 · Built 1972 Airframe modelPiper PA-28R-200 Engine modelLycoming I0360 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(.19) On November 24, 1998, at 2050 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28R-200, N5256T, operated by a private pilot collided with the terrain while taxiing for takeoff at the Houghton County Memorial Airport, Hancock, Michigan. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was subustantially damaged. The 14 CFR part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. The destination of the flight is unknown at this time. (-23) Mr. Clifford was unfamiliar with the cmx airport, he had a long day and was fatigued. After a night landing and refueling, he started up, taxied a little way (see airport diagram), did an engine runup, then became confused as to where the taxiway was. He taxied between to taxiway lights into a field in an attempt to reach the runway for departure. He said he was aware of being on grass, but thought he could cut across the field to get to the runway. He continued on into a drainage ditch which was about ten feet deep.

As the FAA filed it

(.19) ON NOVEMBER 24, 1998, AT 2050 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, A PIPER PA-28R-200, N5256T, OPERATED BY A PRIVATE PILOT COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN WHILE TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF AT THE HOUGHTON COUNTY MEMORIAL AIRPORT, HANCOCK, MICHIGAN. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBUSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE 14 CFR PART 91 FLIGHT WAS OPERATING IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. THE DESTINATION OF THE FLIGHT IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. (-23) MR. CLIFFORD WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE CMX AIRPORT, HE HAD A LONG DAY AND WAS FATIGUED. AFTER A NIGHT LANDING AND REFUELING, HE STARTED UP, TAXIED A LITTLE WAY (SEE AIRPORT DIAGRAM), DID AN ENGINE RUNUP, THEN BECAME CONFUSED AS TO WHERE THE TAXIWAY WAS. HE TAXIED BETWEEN TO TAXIWAY LIGHTS INTO A FIELD IN AN ATTEMPT TO REACH THE RUNWAY FOR DEPARTURE. HE SAID HE WAS AWARE OF BEING ON GRASS, BUT THOUGHT HE COULD CUT ACROSS THE FIELD TO GET TO THE RUNWAY. HE CONTINUED ON INTO A DRAINAGE DITCH WHICH WAS ABOUT TEN FEET DEEP.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CHI99LA038Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHancock, MIthe pilot became disoriented while taxiing at an unfamiliar airport and his failure to reduce engine power when the airplane departed the paved surface. Factors associated with the accident were the dark night condition, the pilot did not follow the correct…Nov 25, 1998 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N5256T · 2

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19950613018019AUnauth Low Level Opns · Bay City, MIStruck a power line flying low over place of employment. Returned to airport. (-23) pilot rented aircraft from local FBO. Was flying low over his place of employment and struck powerline. Aircraft returned to airport and landed. 3 pax on board, no injuries.…Jun 13, 1995 · Substantial damage Incident 19800426046369ILevel Off Touchdown · Freemont, MIPilot says he extended gear but failed to check lights and horn. Horn found to be working.Apr 26, 1980 · Minor damage