# Accident 19981124032499A: Piper PA28R200, Hancock, MI, November 24, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 24, 1998, 20:50 local time
- Place: Hancock, MI
- Airport: Houghton County Memorial
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Ground Taxi, Other Airplane
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.1306° N, 88.6006° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.1306&lon=-88.6006&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5256T, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5256T-2013-08-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28R-200 (registry code 7102811, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28R200
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 340 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI99LA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA038) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981124032499A

## Narrative

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

(.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.

## 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 CHI99LA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA038), Nov 25, 1998: Piper PA-28R-200 (N5256T), Hancock, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: the 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…

## Other reports on N5256T (2)

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

- [Accident 19950613018019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950613018019A), Jun 13, 1995: Piper PA28R200 (N5256T), Bay City, MI, Substantial damage. Struck 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…
- [Incident 19800426046369I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800426046369I), Apr 26, 1980: Piper PA28R200 (N5256T), Freemont, MI, Minor damage. Pilot says he extended gear but failed to check lights and horn. Horn found to be working.

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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