# Accident 19990901030729A: Piper PA12, Neguanee, MI, September 1, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 1, 1999, 20:30 local time
- Place: Neguanee, MI
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Unauth Low Level Opns
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 46.4908° N, 87.5903° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.4908&lon=-87.5903&mi=10
- Aircraft: N91901, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N91901-2000-09-22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-12 (registry code 7101202, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA12
- Reported engine: LYC O235*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI99FA332](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99FA332) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990901030729A

## Narrative

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

(.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.

## 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 CHI99FA332](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99FA332), Sep 2, 1999: Piper PA-12 (N91901), Neguanee, MI, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: the pilot failed to maintain clearance from the tower.

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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