# NTSB CHI90LA171: Piper PA-28-181, N7636F, Drummand Island, MI, July 7, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 7, 1990, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Drummand Island, MI
- Coordinates: 46.000385, -83.669982 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.0004&lon=-83.6700&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 28, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14704
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI90LA171
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14704/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90LA171

## Probable cause

PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO PLAN HIS APPROACH AND LANDING TO USE ALL AVAILABLE RUNWAY. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS ARE INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION, LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, AND INADEQUATE RUNWAY MARKINGS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - airport facilities,runway marking - inadequate (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of familiarity with geographic area, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper touchdown point - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - all available runway - not used, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - fence

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT UPON ENTERING THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT HE CONFERRED WITH HIS PILOT-RATED PASSENGERS TO DETERMINE THE LOCATION OF THE APPROACH END OF THE GRASS RUNWAY. ALL THREE AIRCRAFT OCCUPANTS AGREED ON A POINT JUST SOUTH OF AN INTERSECTING ASPHALT RUNWAY, AND THE PILOT SET UP HIS APPROACH IN ACCORDANCE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN AT THE INTENDED TOUCHDOWN POINT, BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO GET THE AIRCRAFT STOPPED BEFORE THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT RAN OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY, DOWN AND EMBANKMENT AND COLLIDED WITH A FENCE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7636F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7636F-1992-09-04), registration cancelled 1992-09-04, S/N 287790199 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7790199
- Airframe hours: 1263
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Bay De Noc Flying Club
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 10, 1990, 174 hours before
- Departed: KSAW, SAWYER, MI
- Airport: Y66, Drummond Island, runway 18, 2,700 × 150 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,564 total, 48 in this make and model, 1,397 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 12 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PLN, 45 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 19900707024519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900707024519A), Jul 7, 1990: Piper PA28181, Drummond Island, MI, Substantial damage. Failed to use full length of grass runway selected due crosswinds. Ran off end downhill into fence.

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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