Capital City Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lansing, Michigan 48906
Thursday, September 24, 1992 22:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED HE WAS OPERATING AT NIGHT AT AN UNFAMLIAR AIRPORT. HE RECEIVED PROGRESSIVE TAXI INSTRUCTIONS TO THE ACTIVE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE WAS STILL ON THE TAXIWAY WHEN THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER CLEARED THE PILOT FOR IMMEDIATE TAKEOFF AND ADVISED HIM OF TRAFFIC ON A TWO MILE FINAL. THE PILOT REPORTED THE PILOT-RATED PASSENGER WAS URGING HIM TO HURRY, AND HE APPLIED FULL THROTTLE. THE PILOT STATED HE FELT SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT, '...BUT I COULDN'T PUT MY FINGER ON IT.' WHEN HE REALIZED THE AIRPLANE WAS STILL ON THE TAXIWAY AND NOT THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE. THE AIRPLANE RAN OFF THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY, AND CAME TO REST IN A DITCH.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PLANNING AND DECISION-MAKING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/24/1992
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 2230
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City LANSING
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48906
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CAPITAL CITY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LAN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 861
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2325 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 240
Weather Observation Facility ID LAN
Elevation of weather observation facility 861
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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) 2309
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 25 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 700
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 47186
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:18PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5122S
NTSB Number CHI92LA291
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-28-180
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-180
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7105172
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
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 Sep 7 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2373
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name KUDLA, FRANK R.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 36093 HERMAN
Aircraft Owner City ROMULUS
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48174
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name KUDLA, FRANK R.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 36093 HERMAN
Operator City ROMULUS
Operator State MI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 48174
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 LAN
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 2230
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 2G5
Destination City DETROIT
Destination State MI
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 6
Runway Length 5000
Runway Width 120
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --