Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Houghton, Michigan 49931
Thursday, July 8, 1993 21:10 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE SINGLE-ENGINE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED FLYING LOW OVER THE PILOT'S FAMILY HOME. DURING THE SECOND LOW ALTITUDE FLY-BY, A WITNESS HEARD THE ENGINE SPUTTER, FOLLOWED BY A HIGH RPM INCREASE AND THEN WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS AN ENGINE STALL. THE WITNESS STATED THE AIRPLANE BEGAN A DESCENT TOWARD THE GROUND SIMILAR TO ONE THAT A CROP DUSTER WOULD PERFORM. HE OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING STRIKE THE GROUND. THE ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED AIRPLANE SYSTEM AND ENGINE MECHANICAL CONTINUITY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED WHILE MANEUVERING WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL/MUSH. INTENTIONAL BUZZING WAS A FACTOR.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/8/1993
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 2110
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City HOUGHTON
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49931
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1851 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 10
Weather Observation Facility ID CMX
Elevation of weather observation facility 1095
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 8
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 8000
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 120
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1623
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 8 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2340
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:27PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6279A
NTSB Number CHI93FA247
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-38-112
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-38-112
Aircraft Serial Number 38-78AO362
Certified Max Gross Weight 1680
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 Jun 11 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 1257
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CHARLES H. OHTONEN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3040 DAVIS ROAD APT A-63
Aircraft Owner City FAIRBANKS
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99709
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CHARLES H. OHTONEN
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 3040 DAVIS ROAD APT A-63
Operator City FAIRBANKS
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99709
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --