Aviation Crash Map

Piper PA-32-RT300 N9800K

22 November 1990 · Gaylord, Michigan, United States · Fatal

Summary

On 22 November 1990 at about 00:50 local time, a Piper PA-32-RT300 registered N9800K was involved in an accident near Gaylord, Michigan, United States. 6 people were on board and 4 died, 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 00:50
Classification
Accident
Location
Gaylord, Michigan, United States
Nearest airport
Otsego County (GLR)
Coordinates
45.0201, -84.6707
Aircraft
Piper PA-32-RT300
Registration
N9800K
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Ann Arbor → Unknown
Aircraft damage
Destroyed
Weather
IMC
Light
Night/Dark
NTSB number
CHI91FA031

People

4 people died.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
6 4 2 0 0

Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE TERRAIN CLEARANCE. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE DARK NIGHT, ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE IN CONTINUING VFR FLIGHT INTO THESE CONDITIONS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT HAD OBTAINED 3 WEATHER BRIEFINGS BEFORE THE NIGHT FLIGHT. FORECAST WEATHER WAS IMC ENROUTE AND AT DESTINATION, DETERIORATING THROUGH MIDNIGHT. THE PILOT FILED VFR TO SAGINAW AND IFR TO HIS DESTINATION. HE WAS NOT INSTRUMENT-RATED. THE PILOT BROKE OUT BENEATH A 600-FT OVERCAST AND ATTEMPTED FOR THE NEXT HOUR TO LAND. THE AIRPLANE EVENTUALLY FLEW INTO TREES ON AN EXTENDED DOWNWIND IN THE LANDING CONFIGURATION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper PA-32 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
27 Apr 1990 Piper PA-32-260
N7732J
Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States Martinaire Minor injuries -
24 Aug 1990 Piper PA-32
N5206S
Kashvik Bay, Alaska, United States - No injuries -
11 Dec 1990 Piper PA-32
N8225J
Kongikank, Alaska, United States Ervin, Terry No injuries -
16 Mar 1990 Piper PA-32-301
N8290T
Almautlak, Alaska, United States Arctic Circle Air Service Fatal 1
23 May 1990 Piper PA-32-300
N301KK
Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
no coordinates
- No injuries -
10 Jun 1990 Piper PA-32-300
N3AH
Havasu Landing, California, United States Darrel L. Gillman Fatal 3

All 1,695 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
5 Apr 1990 Beechcraft M35
N9829R
Romeo, Michigan, United States John E. Singer Fatal 1
26 Jun 1990 Piper PA-46-310P
N315RC
Lakeville, Michigan, United States - Fatal 1
28 Apr 1990 Sikorsky S-58F
N871
Southfield, Michigan, United States
no coordinates
- Fatal 1
3 Feb 1990 North American NA-265-40
N50CD
Detroit, Michigan, United States Detroit City Police No injuries -
20 May 1990 Piper PA-28-181
N24PT
East Lansing, Michigan, United States J. J. Tiefenthaler Fatal 1
3 Jun 1990 Beechcraft A36
N3671B
Gaylord, Michigan, United States G M N Leasing Fatal 4

All 170,864 records in United States