Bishop International Arpt Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Flint, Michigan 48501
Wednesday, April 7, 1999 18:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor associated with the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/7/1999
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1815
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City FLINT
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48501
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BISHOP INTERNATIONAL ARPT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FNT
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 50
Airport Elevation 780
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1810 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 230
Weather Observation Facility ID FNT
Elevation of weather observation facility 780
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 9000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 20
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 1495
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 535
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 7 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2206
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 11:29AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6454R
NTSB Number CHI99LA123
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-140
Aircraft Serial Number 28-21639
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 21 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 272
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FATHER JOHN 77 FLYING CLUB INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3701 GRATIOT AVE
Aircraft Owner City FLINT
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48503
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 3DA
Departure City FLUSHING
Departure State MI
Departure Country
Departure Time 1800
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code FNT
Destination City
Destination State MI
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 23
Runway Length 4291
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --