# NTSB CHI99LA123: Piper PA-28-140, N6454R, Flint, MI, April 7, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 7, 1999, 18:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Flint, MI - Location: 42.9759° N, 83.7310° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from BISHOP INTL (FNT), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9759&lon=-83.7310&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46065 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99LA123 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46065/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA123 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor associated with the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - pole - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis According to the flight instructor, while on approach to runway 23, the dual student reduced engine power in order to lose some altitude. When the airplane reached the desired altitude, the throttle was advanced but no response was noted from the engine. The instructor took control of the airplane, attempted to troubleshoot the loss of engine power, and then elected to land the airplane in a parking lot north of the airport. Approximately 30 feet above ground level, it collided with a light pole, impacted the terrain, and came to rest on an embankment near an exit ramp for I-75. Examination of the wreckage failed to reveal any apparent preaccident anomalies with the airplane or its engine. ## Factual narrative On April 7, 1999, at 1815 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N6454R, piloted by a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) and a dual student, received substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power while on approach to runway 23 (4,291 feet by 150 feet, dry/asphalt-concrete) at the Bishop International Airport, Flint, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The instructional flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The CFI and dual student reported no injuries. The flight originated from Dalton Airport, Flushing, Michigan, at 1800 and was en route to Bishop International Airport. According to the CFI, while on approach to runway 23, the dual student reduced engine power in order to lose some altitude. When the aircraft reached the desired altitude, the throttle was advanced but no response was noted from the engine. The CFI took control of the aircraft, attempted to troubleshoot the loss of engine power, and then elected to land the aircraft in a parking lot north of the airport. Approximately 30 feet above ground level (agl), the aircraft collided with a light pole, impacted the terrain, and came to rest on an embankment near an exit ramp for I-75. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspection of the wreckage failed to reveal any apparent pre-accident anomalies with the aircraft or its engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6454R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6454R-1999-06-23), registration cancelled 1999-06-23, S/N 28-21639 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-21639 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-L2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Father John 77 Flying Club Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 21, 1998, 272 hours before - Departed: 3DA, FLUSHING, MI - Destination: FNT, MI - Airport: FNT, Bishop International Arpt, runway 23, 4,291 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 10,656 total, 142 in this make and model, 10,303 as pilot in command, 63 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 13 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: FNT, 1 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 19990407003179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990407003179A), Apr 7, 1999: Piper PA28140, Flint, MI, Substantial damage. Acft engine lost power and the acft lost altitude 1 mile from the arpt, other circumstances are unknown. (From .19) on apri 7, 1999, at 1815 eastern daylight… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.