# NTSB CHI89LA028: Piper PA-32-260, N3662W, Marquette, MI, November 24, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 23, 1988, 23:14 local (Nov 24, 1988, 05:14 UTC)
- Place: Marquette, MI
- Coordinates: 46.549514, -87.390121 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.5495&lon=-87.3901&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 3 serious, 2 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 28, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14313
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI89LA028
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14313/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI89LA028

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, landing
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AFTER ENCOUNTERING UNFORECAST ADVERSE WX AT HIS INTENDED DESTN, THE PLT CIRCLED THE AREA A COUPLE OF TIMES, THEN DIVERTED TO MARQUETTE, MI. HOWEVER, BEFORE REACHING THE ALTERNATE ARPT, THE ENG LOST POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES DRG A NIGHT LANDING. THE PLT PLANNED TO ARRIVE AT THE ORIGINAL DESTN WITH ENOUGH FUEL TO PROCEED TO AN ALTN ARPT. HE NOTED THAT SINCE THE ACFT HAD NO EGT GAUGE, HIS ATTEMPTS TO LEAN THE MIXTURE TO A MORE EFFICIENT FUEL/AIR RATIO WERE RELATIVELY IMPRECISE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3662W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3662W-1990-03-06), registration cancelled 1990-03-06, S/N 32569 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-260
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-569
- Airframe hours: 10679
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-E4B5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Northern Airmotive Partners
- Registered owner: Norther Airmotive Partners
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 17, 1988, 12 hours before
- Departed: LAN, LANSING, MI
- Destination: HANCOCK, MI
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 255 total, 20 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 200° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 700 ft broken
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MQT, 12 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19881123052299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881123052299A), Nov 23, 1988: Piper PA32260, Marquette, MI, Substantial damage. Unable to land at destination due low clouds. Ran out of fuel returning to alternate. Crashed into trees in park.

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.

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