Grant Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Grant, Michigan 49327
Monday, June 26, 2000 11:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airstrip (runway 27) being used for takeoff was bordered by trees on the north and west sides and the winds were from 210 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 20 knots. The pilot stated there was turbulence on takeoff from the left quartering headwind. He reported that at an altitude of 150 to 200 feet above the ground, the right wing "dipped severely down (on knife edge)" and he corrected the attitude, but the airplane started to buffet. In order to avoid going into the wooded area, he banked the airplane to the left to fly over a corn field with a headwind; however, the airplane continued to descend. The pilot reported the airplane descended until it contacted the terrain in the corn field. He stated that just after touch down the nose gear contacted a "large rock" and the airplane spun around prior to coming to rest.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane which resulted in a stall/mush condition. Factors associated with the accident were the trees and gusty wind conditions which resulted in turbulence on takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/26/2000
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1115
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City GRANT
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49327
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport GRANT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 01C
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 815
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
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 2800
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
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) 68
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
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) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 3
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 10371
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jun 26 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1312
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Aug 29 2001 10:56AM
User who most recently changed record MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N98117
NTSB Number CHI00LA174
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
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 28-26053
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
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 Jun 29 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 243
Airframe Hours 2174
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MARK T. ALLEN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4001 20 MILE ROAD
Aircraft Owner City KENT CITY
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 49330
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 01C
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1115
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code H04
Destination City ROLLO
Destination State MO
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 19 2001 4:04AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 2517
Runway Width 120
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --