19990901030729A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper PA-12 · Neguanee, MI · September 1, 1999

Date: September 1, 1999 · 20:30 local
Place: Neguanee, MI
Phase of flight: Unauth Low Level Opns
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N91901
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI99FA332
Reported as: Piper PA12
Reported engine: Lycoming O235*
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1

N91901Registration cancelled Sep 22, 2000 · Piper PA-12S/N 12-22 Airframe modelPiper PA-12

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 September 1, 1999, at 2030 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-12 floatplane, N91901, was destroyed when it impacted a 200 foot communications tower located 1/4 mile from the intended landing site on dead river basin, Neguanee, Michigan. The private pilot was fatally injured. The 14 CFR part 91 flight had departed from the bay at marquette, Michigan, approximately 15 minutes prior to the accident. The communications tower was located approximately 8 nautical miles and 288 degrees from the departure point. The official sunset at marquette, Michigan, was 2030 EDT, and the sun's azimuth at sunset was 283 degrees. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. (-23) aircraft struck communications tower about 1/4 mile from intended landing site on lake. (Dead river basin) accident occured at sundown, sun in eyes may have obstructed pilot's vision. Pilot was aware of tower and familiar with the area. Pilot was blind, or nearly blind in one eye.

As the FAA filed it

(.19) ON SEPTEMBER 1, 1999, AT 2030 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA-12 FLOATPLANE, N91901, WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT IMPACTED A 200 FOOT COMMUNICATIONS TOWER LOCATED 1/4 MILE FROM THE INTENDED LANDING SITE ON DEAD RIVER BASIN, NEGUANEE, MICHIGAN. THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED. THE 14 CFR PART 91 FLIGHT HAD DEPARTED FROM THE BAY AT MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN, APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE COMMUNICATIONS TOWER WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 8 NAUTICAL MILES AND 288 DEGREES FROM THE DEPARTURE POINT. THE OFFICIAL SUNSET AT MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN, WAS 2030 EDT, AND THE SUN'S AZIMUTH AT SUNSET WAS 283 DEGREES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. (-23) AIRCRAFT STRUCK COMMUNICATIONS TOWER ABOUT 1/4 MILE FROM INTENDED LANDING SITE ON LAKE. (DEAD RIVER BASIN) ACCIDENT OCCURED AT SUNDOWN, SUN IN EYES MAY HAVE OBSTRUCTED PILOT'S VISION. PILOT WAS AWARE OF TOWER AND FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA. PILOT WAS BLIND, OR NEARLY BLIND IN ONE EYE.

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 CHI99FA332Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportNeguanee, MIthe pilot failed to maintain clearance from the tower.Sep 2, 1999 · Destroyed