Kent County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Grand Rapids, Michigan 49508
Tuesady, January 19, 1982 15:36 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND WAS A STUDENT ON A CHECK FLIGHT FOR A PRIVATE LICENSE. THE CHECK PILOT WAS AN FAA INSPECTOR. THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED FROM AN AIRPORT WITH RUNWAYS THAT WERE PARTIALLY COVERED WITH SNOW AND ICE. THE MISHAP OCCURRED WHILE THE PILOT WAS DEMONSTRATING A SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF ON THE THIRD DEPARTURE. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO VEER TO THE LEFT DURING ROTATION. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE THEN BROUGHT THE NOSE DOWN, SHUT THE POWER OFF, APPLIED BRAKES, AND THE AIRCRAFT SLID INTO THE SNOW. THE INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT THE PLANE LIFTED OFF PREMATURELY, THEN SETTLED BACK ONTO THE RUNWAY AFTER A VERY SHORT TIME. WHEN THE PLANE SLID TO THE LEFT OF THE CENTERLINE, THE INSPECTOR PUT HER FOOT ON THE RIGHT RUDDER PEDAL. SHE FOUND THAT THE PILOT ALREADY HAD IT COMPLETELY DEPRESSED. AS THE LEFT MAIN GEAR WENT INTO THE SNOW, THE AIRCRAFT WAS PULLED FARTHER LEFT. IT CAME TO REST 6 FEET OFF OF THE RUNWAY WITH DAMAGE TO THE PROPELLER, LEFT WING, AND AN ENGINE MOUNT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/19/1982
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1536
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City GRAND RAPIDS
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49508
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport KENT COUNTY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GRR
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1540
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID GRR
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 7000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
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) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 50
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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) 64
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N26093
NTSB Number CHI82DA028
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-38-112
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-38-112
Aircraft Serial Number 38-81AO115
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 15
Airframe Hours 215
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAMES R NORBERG
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4324 FIRESIDE
Aircraft Owner City PORTAGE
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name BARTELL AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address KALAMAZOO AIRPORT
Operator City KALAMAZOO
Operator State MI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code GRR
Departure City GRAND RAPIDS
Departure State MI
Departure Country
Departure Time 1535
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code GRR
Destination City GRAND RAPIDS
Destination State MI
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:49PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 8
Runway Length 3900
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --