Detroit Metro Wayne Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Detroit, Michigan 48213
Wednesday, November 12, 1986 1:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

UPON LANDING AT DETROIT METROPOLITAN AIRPORT, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS INSTRUCTED BY THE TOWER TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN ON RUNWAY 3C OR TAXIWAY J, AND TAXI TO BUTLER AVIATION. THE PILOT THEN TURNED ONTO WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS TAXIWAY J, BUT WAS ACTUALLY A PAVED AREA BETWEEN TAXIWAYS. WHEN HE REALIZED HE WAS NOT ON A TAXIWAY, HE TOLD THE TOWER AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAXI STRAIGHT AHEAD IF POSSIBLE AND HE WOULD BE ON THE TAXIWAY. AFTER MOVING FORWARD, A NUMBER OF FEET, THE LEFT MAIN GEAR ENCOUNTERED AN UNMARKED TRENCH, APPROXIMATELY 1 FOOT WIDE BY 15 FEET LONG AND ABOUT 4 INCHES DEEP, TEARING OFF THE LEFT MAIN GEAR.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/12/1986
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 100
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City DETROIT
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48213
Event Date Year 1986
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport DETROIT METRO WAYNE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID DTW
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 639
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1252 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID DTW
Elevation of weather observation facility 639
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Bright
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 20000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Broken
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) -4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2260
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 12 1986 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 730
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 32878
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8161K
NTSB Number CHI87LA025
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-34-220T
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-34-220T
Aircraft Serial Number 348233109
Certified Max Gross Weight 4570
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 7
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 6 1986 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 1600
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name VAN AIR LEASING
Aircraft Owner Street Address 71 STEPHENS ROAD GROSSE
Aircraft Owner City POINT FARM
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48236
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name OLSON FLIGHT SERVICES
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 11499 CONNER, RM. 114
Operator City DETROIT
Operator State MI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 48213
Operator Code BTUA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code DET
Departure City DETROIT
Departure State MI
Departure Country
Departure Time 1245
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 8700
Runway Width 200
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --