Chesaning, Howard Nixon Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chesaning, Michigan 48616
Monday, September 18, 2000 14:53 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Witnesses observed the airplane flying low on the final approach to the runway when it impacted trees about 50 feet in height, and then impact the ground in a steep nose down attitude. The airplane was observed doing touch and goes for about 15 minutes prior to the accident. The examination of the airplane revealed no preexisting anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The toxicological reported indicated that imipramine and diphenhydramine were present in the pilot. Imipramine has a detrimental effect on driving skills and other cognitive functions. Diphenhydramine can cause drowsiness.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot failed to maintain clearance from the trees. A factor was the trees.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/18/2000
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1453
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City CHESANING
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48616
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport CHESANING, HOWARD NIXON
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 50G
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 644
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1453 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 130
Weather Observation Facility ID FNT
Elevation of weather observation facility 767
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 74
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 53
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
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 --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11228
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Sep 18 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1430
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2002 7:11AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5943H
NTSB Number CHI00LA282
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-16
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-16
Aircraft Serial Number 16-566
Certified Max Gross Weight 1650
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 12 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 1648
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LANCASTER J. ALLEN
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 50G
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1430
Departure Time Zone EST
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 Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 1 2001 4:45AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 2200
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --