# Accident 20250902012639A: Piper PA-30, Caro, MI, September 2, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 2, 2025, 13:15 local time
- Place: Caro, MI
- Airport: Tuscola Area Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.4589° N, 83.4454° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4589&lon=-83.4454&mi=10
- Aircraft: N26RJ, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N26RJ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-30 (registry code 7103002, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-320 series (registry code 41509, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-320B1A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,508 total, 501 in this make and model, 26 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN25LA361](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA361) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250902012639A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT WAS RUNNING LATE FOR A DEPARTURE FROM BELLAIRE MI TO MIDSTATE AIRPORT IN NORTH CAROLINA.

AFTER PULLING HIS AIRPLANE OUT OF THE HANGAR FOR THE FLIGHT, HE WAS DISTRACTED BY OTHER DUTIES AND FAILED TO REMOVE THE TOWBAR.

DURING FLIGHT HE NOTICED A SLOWER CRUISE SPEED, THE LANDING GEAR IN TRANSIT, AND THE GEAR MOTOR CIRCUIT BREAKER POPPED.

AS HE PROCEEDED SOUTH NEAR STANDISH, HE MADE THE DECISION TO DIVERT TO TUSCOLA AREA AIRPORT NEAR CARO.

NEARING THE AIRPORT, HE WAS ABLE TO RESET THE BREAKER AND EXTEND THE LANDING GEAR. THE TOWBAR REMAINED ATTACHED AND HUNG DOWN FROM THE AIRPLANE.

THE PILOT CHOSE TO LAND ON RUNWAY 6 AND TOUCHED DOWN JUST WEST OF THE PAVEMENT. HE VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY TOWARD THE EAST, GOING THROUGH A TAXI WAY SIGN AND RUNWAY LIGHTS, THROUGH TALL GRASS AND A DITCH BEFORE COMING TO REST ALONG THE PARALLEL TAXIWAY FACING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE LANDING GEAR HAD COLLAPSED, AND THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED HEAVY DAMAGE. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE UNINJURED.

## 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 CEN25LA361](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA361), Sep 2, 2025: Piper PA-30 (N26RJ), Caro, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to remove the tow bar before flight.

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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