Grand Haven Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Grand Haven, Michigan 49417
Monday, April 1, 1996 10:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

After touchdown from a left wing low landing, the student pilot, who was flying the airplane from the front seat, allowed the airplane to veer left. The instructor pilot, who was in the back seat, took control of the airplane, added full power, and pulled back on the stick in an attempt to avoid a runway light. The airplane cleared the light at a slow airspeed; however, its right wing immediately dipped and struck the terrain. The airplane then spun around and came to a stop. Examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies which could have contributed to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

failure of the dual student to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing, and inadequate supervision by the flight instructor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/1/1996
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City GRAND HAVEN
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49417
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GRAND HAVEN
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 3GM
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 270
Airport Elevation 605
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 20
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
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) 128
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 5 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1400
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 9:56AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N454Q
NTSB Number CHI96LA126
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-18A
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-18A
Aircraft Serial Number 18-4902
Certified Max Gross Weight 1752
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 25 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 4353
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GREG M. HAGEN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5160 MARTIN ROAD
Aircraft Owner City MUSKEGON
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 49441
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JOHN R. YARRANTON
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1816 BARCLAY STREET
Operator City MUSKEGON
Operator State MI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 49441
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code 3GM
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1025
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MKG
Destination City MUSKEGON
Destination State MI
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 9
Runway Length 4000
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --