Aviation Crash Map

Piper PA-28-140 N8255N

20 July 1994 · Traverse, Michigan, United States · Serious injuries

Summary

On 20 July 1994 at about 00:16 local time, a Piper PA-28-140 registered N8255N, operated by Cherry Capital Aviation, was involved in an accident near Traverse, Michigan, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 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 00:16
Classification
Accident
Location
Traverse, Michigan, United States
Nearest airport
Cherry Capital Airport (TVC)
Coordinates
44.7604, -85.6995
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-140
Registration
N8255N
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Cherry Capital Aviation
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Unknown → Charlevoix
Aircraft damage
Destroyed
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
CHI94LA234

People

4 people were seriously injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
4 0 4 0 0

Probable cause

poor preflight planning and preparation by the pilot for not calculating the weight and balance of his airplane before departure. Factors associated with the accident were the airplane's weight and balance was exceeded, and the pilot's lack of recent experience in the accident airplane.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING INITIAL CLIMBOUT FROM TAKEOFF A PASSENGER STATED HE FELT THE AIRPLANE 'BUMP' SEVERAL TIMES. WHEN ATC TOLD THE PILOT TO TURN, THE PASSENGER SAID HE FELT MORE BUMPING AS THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED INTO THE TREES. GROUND WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE PITCHING UP AND DOWN WHILE FLYING LOW. THEY STATED THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS RUNNING AT FULL POWER. THE ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED FULL NOSE UP TRIM, A TAKEOFF WEIGHT 196 POUNDS OVER CERTIFICATED GROSS WEIGHT. THE ENGINE WAS TEST RUN AT THE MANUFACTURER. THE ENGINE PRODUCED 100 PERCENT OF RATED POWER DURING THE TEST RUN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper PA-28 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
25 Jul 1994 Piper PA-28-140
N32925
Augusta, Maine, United States
no coordinates
- Minor injuries -
30 Oct 1994 Piper PA-28-180C
N9235J
Nunda, New York, United States Raymond J. Marshall No injuries -
5 Mar 1994 Piper PA-28-180
N43571
St. Matthews, South Carolina, United States JB Aviation No injuries -
31 Jul 1994 Piper PA-28-181
N8453B
Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States
no coordinates
- No injuries -
25 Sep 1994 Piper PA-28
N4813T
Woodland, California, United States William R. LEE No injuries -
17 Jan 1994 Piper PA-28-180
N2338T
Boynton Beach, Florida, United States
no coordinates
- No injuries -

All 9,402 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
26 Jun 1994 Cessna 172N
N5183E
Lambertville, Michigan, United States Davis College Minor injuries -
30 Jun 1994 Beechcraft 19
N6966Q
Ionia, Michigan, United States - No injuries -
2 Jul 1994 Hunsberger GLASAIR
N234EC
Lapeer, Michigan, United States - Minor injuries -
8 Jul 1994 Beechcraft K35
N153C
Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States Richard J. van Lente Minor injuries -
8 Jul 1994 Cessna T210M
N88XH
Beaver Island, Michigan, United States - Fatal 2
1 Jul 1994 Cessna 441
N815MC
Flint, Michigan, United States - No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States