# Accident 19990327002759A: Piper PA32300, Marquette, MI, March 27, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 27, 1999, 12:44 local time
- Place: Marquette, MI
- Airport: Marquette County
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 46.5500° N, 87.3896° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.5500&lon=-87.3896&mi=10
- Aircraft: N66BH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N66BH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32-300 (registry code 7103212, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32300
- Reported engine: LYC IO540*
- People aboard: 6
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI99LA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA117) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990327002759A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON MARCH 27, 1999, AT 1244 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, A PIPER PA-32-300, N66BH, OPERATED BY A PRIVATE PILOT COLLIDED WITH A TAXIWAY SIGN FOLLOWING A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHILE TAKEOFF FROM THE MARQUETTE COUNTY AIRPORT, MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN. THE PRIVATE PILOT AND FIVE PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT WAS ORIGINATING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WITH A PLANNED DESTINATION OF PELLSTON, MICHIGAN. THE TAKEOFF WAS BEING CONDUCTED ON RUNWAY 26 (6,500' X 150'). THE LOCAL WINDS REPORTED EIGHT MINUTES AFTER THE ACCIDENT WERE 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. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED THROUGH A FIELD WHERE IT CONTACTED A TAXIWAY SIGN PRIOR TO COMING TO REST. (-23)PILOT BEGAN TAKEOFF ROLL ON RUNWAY 26 AT MQT, AFTER TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET, THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, STRIKING A RUNWAY LIGHT. TH PILOT CONTINUED THE TAKEOFF ATTEMPT, TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY ANOTHER 2,000 FEET IN THE SNOW, OFF THE RUNWAY BUT   PARALLEL TO IT. AFTER STRIKING A RUNWAY MARKER SIGN, THE PILOT ABORTED THE TAKEOFF, COMING TO REST ON TOP OF ANOTHER RUNWAY LIGHT.  THE PRECEDING WAS SURMISED FROM AN INTERVIEW WITH THE PILOT, AND OBSERVATIONS OF SOME PEOPLE ON THE SCENE.  FAA WAS NOT PRESENT DUE TO LACK OF FUNDS.

## 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 CHI99LA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA117), Mar 27, 1999: Piper PA-32-300 (N66BH), Marquette, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: 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…

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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