CHI02LA015

Factual narrative

On October 28, 2001, at 1030 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28R-201, N6899C, operated by Sutton Aviation Incorporated, was substantially damaged during final approach to runway 27 (1,900 feet by 150 feet, turf) at the Dupont-Lapeer Airport (D95), Lapeer, Michigan. The airplane impacted terrain approximately 100 feet short of runway 27's approach end. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight was not operating on a flight plan. The private pilot and the flight instructor reported no injuries. The local flight originated at 1000. The private pilot was receiving instruction towards a complex airplane endorsement. The flight instructor reported in a written statement that they had performed three landings on runway 18 and then changed to runway 27 where they abandoned their first approach. During their second approach, they landed approximately 50 feet short of runway 27. The airplane skidded on the runway centerline for approximately 150 feet and then came to a stop. The flight instructor also reported his safety recommendations as, change the runway aiming point for students, be more forceful with increase power requests and review these procedures with students during preflight. The 61-year old flight instructor received a second-class medical certificate on September 10, 1999. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the flight instructor's medical certificate expired on September 30, 2001. The flight instructor obtained a new second class medical certificate on October 30, 2001. The flight instructor previously received a warning letter from the FAA on September 1, 1999 for instructing and acting as pilot-in-command without a valid medical certificate. The owner of Sutton Aviation stated that his flight instructors are independent employees and he does not check the validity of their pilot certificate or medical certificate information. He also stated that he was not aware that the flight instructor's medical certificate was expired. The airplane landed short of the runway during an instructional flight for a complex airplane endorsement. The flight instructor reported his safety recommendations as: change the runway aiming point for students, be more forceful with increase power requests, and review procedures with students during preflight. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the flight instructor's medical certificate was expired. The flight instructor previously received a warning letter from the FAA on September 1, 1999 for instructing and acting as pilot-in-command without a valid medical certificate. The owner of the flight school where the instructor was employed stated that he does not check the validity of his flight instructors' pilot or medical certificate information and was unaware that the accident flight instructor did not possess a valid medical certificate. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12