# NTSB CHI91LA252: Piper PA-28-161, N4189Q, Mount Pleasant, MI, August 7, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 6, 1991, 21:00 local (Aug 7, 1991, 01:00 UTC)
- Place: Mount Pleasant, MI
- Coordinates: 43.589702, -84.770179 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5897&lon=-84.7702&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 14, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15149
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI91LA252
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15149/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI91LA252

## Probable cause

DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS NOT MAINTAINED BY THE PILOT.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE A WET, GRASS RUNWAY AND BUILDINGS ADJACENT THE RUNWAY.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - grass (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - wet (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - building(nonresidential) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT SAID THAT DURING THE LANDING ROLL OUT, ON A 1900 FOOT, WET GRASS RUNWAY, DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST.  THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH AIRPORT BUILDINGS ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO LANDING GEAR OR BRAKE MALFUNCTIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4189Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4189Q-2015-05-05), registration cancelled 2015-05-05, S/N 28-7716172 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7716172
- Airframe hours: 1316
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D36 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Bradford, Frederick L.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 1990
- Airport: MI44, Dj Airport, runway 18, 1,900 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 30° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Observed at: MBS, 30 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 19910806032109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910806032109A), Aug 6, 1991: Piper PA28161, Mount Pleasant, MI, Substantial damage. Lost control landing on short wet grass strip. Veered off runway and collided with airport buildings.

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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