# Accident 20020828021799A: Piper PA28R180, Newago, MI, August 28, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 28, 2002, 18:45 local time
- Place: Newago, MI
- Damage: Destroyed
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.4667° N, 85.7500° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4667&lon=-85.7500&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4988J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4988J-2003-01-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28R-180 (registry code 7102809, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28R180
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 3
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI02FA262](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02FA262) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020828021799A

## Narrative

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

(-23) DEPARTED THREE RIVERS (HAI) AT 2 PM FOR A CONFERENCE IN TRAVERSE CITY. DEPARTED TRAVERSE CITY AT APPROXIMATELY 6 PM TO RETURN TO THREE RIVERS. AT APPROXIMATELY 6:45 PM N4988J HIT A POWER LINE AND CRASHED INTO THE MUSKEGEON RIVER NEAR CROJON HEIGHTS, NEWAGO COUNTY, MI. THREE FATALITIES. WITNESSES REPORTED THE AIRCRAFT FLYING LOW OVER THE LAKE BEHIND THE HARDY DAM THEN CLIMBING TO FLY OVER THE DAM AND DESCENDING. BELOW THE TREE LINE DOWNSTREAM OF THE DAM, THEY FLEW ABOUT 1 1/2 MILES AND MADE A 90 DEGREE TURN TO THE LEFT. WITNESSES REPORTED THE AIRCRAFT BELOW THE TREE LINE. THEY FLEW ABOUT 1 MI ON A SE HEADING AND BANKED FOR A RIGHT TURN. THE LEFT WING STRUCK A POWER LINE AND THEY CRASHED INTO THE RIVER IMMEDIATELY SINKING TO THE BOTTOM.

## 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 CHI02FA262](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02FA262), Aug 28, 2002: Piper PA-28R-180 (N4988J), Newaygo, MI, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The altitude/clearance disregarded by the pilot and his ostentatious display. The wire and low altitude flight were a contributing factor.

## Other reports on N4988J (1)

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

- [Incident 19960817030409I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960817030409I), Aug 17, 1996: Piper PA28R180 (N4988J), Goshen, IN, Minor damage. Narrative: on August 17, 1996 at 2041 EST, Mr. Donavon l. gingerich acted as pilot in command of Piper model PA-28R-180, N4988J on a flight from Goshen, IN…

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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