Davis Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

East Lansing, Michigan 48873
Saturday, February 6, 1982 9:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT INITIATED HIS TAKEOFF ON A SNOW COVERED, SOD RUNWAY THAT HAD BEEN PLOWED WITH A 50 FT WIDE STRIP. THE PLOWED AREA HAD A SNOW BASE AND THERE WERE FOUR FOOT SNOW BANKS AT THE EDGES. ALTHOUGH THE RUNWAY HAD BEEN PLOWED ON THE PREVIOUS NIGHT AND IT HAD NOT SNOWED. THE WIND HAD DRIFTED LOOSE SNOW OVERNIGHT. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHEN THE LEFT MAIN GEAR HIT A DRIFT. THE PLANE SWERVED TO THE LEFT AND STRUCK THE SNOWBANK AT THE EDGE OF THE PLOWED STRIP.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/6/1982
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 900
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City EAST LANSING
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48873
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport DAVIS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 2D8
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 Partial - limited by pilot
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 900
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID LAN
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 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 15
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 474
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 Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7644F
NTSB Number CHI82DA039
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-28-181
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-181
Aircraft Serial Number 7790201
Certified Max Gross Weight 2500
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours 622
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILLIAM H. CRUSE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4553 KEWEENAW
Aircraft Owner City OKONOS
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WILLIAM H. CRUSE
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 4553 KEWEENAW
Operator City OKONOS
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 2D8
Departure City EAST LANSING
Departure State MI
Departure Country
Departure Time 900
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City LAPEER
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 27
Runway Length 2500
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --