CHI97LA136

Factual narrative

On May 17, 1997, at 2225 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N625EE, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during an aborted landing, at Dalton Airport, near Flushing, Michigan, when it impacted trees and the terrain. The pilot received serious injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in night visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The flight departed Flint, Michigan about 2200. The pilot stated that when he approached the airport for landing he intentionally kept the airplane high on final approach because he was aware of trees on the approach end. He said that when the airplane touched down he could see the departure end of the runway coming up fast and realized that he would not be able to stop on the pavement. He said he aborted the landing and initiated a climb; however, the airplane impacted a tree off the departure end of the runway. An eye witness gave a similar account of the accident as the pilot's statement. He said that he was not a pilot, but that on the approach he knew the airplane was high. He said on landing he could hear the sound of the tires sliding on the pavement. He said that he then heard the engine power increase and watched as the airplane began to climb and strike a tree. The pilot kept the airplane's altitude high on final approach at night due to trees at the end of the runway. When the airplane touched down, he could see that it was approaching the departure end of the runway. At that point, the pilot initiated an aborted landing; however, the airplane impacted trees off the departure end of the runway. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12