- Date
- October 13, 1985, 19:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place
- Troy, MI
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N9422NPiper PA-28R-200
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19851013051509A
- Case key
- 13368
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Forced landing
Elevator - improper use ofCause
Airspeed - not maintainedCause
Stall/mush - inadvertentCause
Hard landing
Terrain condition - rough/unevenFactor
Analysis
The pilot reported a partial loss of power on takeoff. Altitude could not be maintained. During an attempt to return to the airport, the aircraft descended and landed on railroad tracks. The engine was test run at all power settings without discrepancies.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9422N
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28R-200
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28R-35134
- Airframe hours
- 2,850
- Engine
- Lycoming I0360-C1C, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Letourneau College
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · September 19, 1985 · 90 hours before
- Destination
- VHP · Indianapolis, IN
- Flight plan
- VFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 21
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 136 total · 15 in this make and model · 58 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 340° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 57 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- DET, 25 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.