Mackinac Island Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mackinac Island, Michigan 49757
Sunday, August 12, 1984 16:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

PLT STATED THAT DURING TAKEOFF, AT AN ALT OF 40 FEET AGL A LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED. HE REPORTED HE LANDED STRAIGHT AHEAD ON THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED INTO A FIELD OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY, INTO WEEDS BEFORE IT STRUCK A STEEL FENCE POST. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED THAT THE LEFT MAIN AND RIGHT AUX TANK WERE ONE INCH BELOW FULL WHEN VISUALLY CHECKED AND THE INDICATORS SHOWED FULL. THE LEFT AUX TANK WAS HALF FULL AND THE INDICATOR SHOWED EMPTY. THE RT MAIN TANK WAS EMPTY AND THE INDICATOR SHOWED 1/8 OF A TANK. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND TO BE ON THE LEFT MAIN TANK BUT THE PILOT STATED HE SWITCHED TANKS AFTER THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT STATED HE COULD NOT REMEMBER WHICH FUEL TANK HE TOOK OFF ON.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/12/1984
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1645
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MACKINAC ISLAND
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49757
Event Date Year 1984
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MACKINAC ISLAND
Event Location Nearest Airport ID Y84
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 739
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1650 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 200
Weather Observation Facility ID PLN
Elevation of weather observation facility 720
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 19
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
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 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1980
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 25885
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7799P
NTSB Number CHI84LA405
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-24-250
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-24-250
Aircraft Serial Number 24-3017
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 6 1984 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2000
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LEON J. BROWN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 22825 CHERRY HILL
Aircraft Owner City DEARBORN
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48124
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
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1645
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code DTW
Destination City DETROIT
Destination State MI
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 26
Runway Length 3510
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --