- Date
- June 13, 1995, 21:00 local (Jun 14, 1995, 01:00 UTC)
- Place
- Lowell, MI
- Injuries
- 4 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N3625RPiper PA-28-180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 8, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950613020769A
- Case key
- 9911
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to obtain/maintain altitude/clearance.
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.
Analysis
The pilot and three passengers were departing for a short cross country flight. The pilot stated that the airplane lifted off and began to climb, but was not able to clear trees off the end of the runway. A post accident examination of the airplane failed to reveal any pre-existing mechanical anomalies.
Factual narrative
On June 13, 1995, at 2100 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28- 180, N3625R, registered to an individual and operated by a private pilot, impacted trees and the terrain 500 feet west of the departure end of the west runway at the Roberts' Landing, a private airport, near Lowell, Michigan. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot and three passengers reported minor injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file.
The flight was originating at the time of the accident with an intended destination of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The Pilot stated that the airplane lifted off and "slowly began to climb;" however, the airplane failed to clear the trees off the west end of the runway. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane.
A post accident examination failed to reveal any pre-existent mechanical anomalies.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3625R
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-5722
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A4A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Herbst, Michael
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- NONE
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 50
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 108 total · 20 in this make and model · 73 as pilot in command · 21 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- GRR, 9 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.
Other investigations on N3625R · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.