# NTSB ANC26LA031: Piper PA-28-151, N44690, Lapeer, MI, April 23, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: April 23, 2026, 18:24 local (22:24 UTC)
- Place: Lapeer, MI
- Coordinates: 43.07, -83.27
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0700&lon=-83.2700&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 15, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202881
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC26LA031
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202881/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202881
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA031

## Probable cause

The flight instructor’s failure to maintain airplane control during a takeoff attempt, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, runway excursion, and on ground collision with an object. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s decision to continue the takeoff on a closed, unsuitable runway.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Airport facilities/design: runway/landing area condition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035/cases.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035/cases.md)
- [Aircraft capability: climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 183 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Wrong surface or wrong airport](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/284); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/284/sequence.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/284/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor, seated in the right seat, and the student pilot, seated in the left seat, were conducting an instructional flight practicing soft field takeoffs and landings. The flight instructor reported that, during the takeoff roll while demonstrating a soft field takeoff on a turf runway, the airplane encountered rough terrain and was not accelerating as expected. Despite the reduced acceleration, the flight instructor continued the takeoff. Immediately after rotation, the airplane aerodynamically stalled and made abnormal contact with the turf runway. Following the abnormal runway contact, the airplane crossed an intersecting paved runway. The airplane subsequently became airborne again, aerodynamically stalled, and made abnormal contact with the turf runway a second time. The flight instructor reported that, at this point, he decided to abort the takeoff and began taking corrective actions; however, the airplane overran the runway environment, entered a parking lot, and struck an object, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The flight instructor reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The turf runway at Dupont/Lapeer Airport is Runway 09–27. According to the FAA Chart Supplement, Runway 09–27 is closed from November through April and when snow covered.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N44690](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N44690), registered now, S/N 28-7515006, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-151
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (registry code 7102805) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7515006
- Year built: 1974
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: H&M Air LLC
- Registered owner: H&M Air LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Destination: FNT, Flint, MI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: D95, Dupont Lapeer Airport, runway 27, 1,879 × 150 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 29; injuries: none; private, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 2, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 489 total, 34 in this make and model, 345 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days
- Student pilot; age 48; injuries: none; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 37 total, 11 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.83 inHg
- Observed at: D95
- METAR: METAR KD95 232215Z AUTO 14008KT 10SM CLR 25/12 A2983 RMK AO2

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20260423006189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260423006189A), Apr 23, 2026: Piper PA-28-151, Lapeer, MI, Substantial damage. Pilot aborted the take-off; aircraft was unable to stop and overran the end of the runway into a parking lot and struck wire spool racks and parts conveyor.…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 15, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202881. 2.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20285500&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC26LA031%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Flight instructor and student pilot statements (item 2, PDF, 7 pages, 233 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20432468&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC26LA031%20Pilot%20and%20Passenger%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20432142&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Inspectors%20Statement%20of%20Dennis%20Heinze_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA airport chart supplement (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20432738&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Lapeer%20Chart%20Supplement-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 730 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20432493&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC26LA031%20Photos-Rel.pdf

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.