Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

March 15, 1993 · Piper PA-28R-200 · N15206

Grand Haven, MI

Overview

Report Status
Factual report
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 15, 1993
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Grand Haven, MI
Aircraft
Piper PA-28R-200
Tail Number
N15206
Operator
Suburban Aviation
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
CHI93FAMS2

THE PILOT WAS REPORTEDLY FLYING TO JACKSON, MICHIGAN, TO TAKE A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR PRACTICAL FLIGHT TEST FOR WHICH HE WAS SCHEDULED. THE PILOT DID NOT ARRIVE FOR THE FLIGHT TEST. THE FAA ARTCC COVERING THE FLIGHT AREA IDENTIFIED A TARGET WHICH WAS MOST LIKELY THE MISSING AIRPLANE. THE FLIGHT PATH OF THE AIRPLANE TOWARD THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, AND BEYOND IT, AS ERATIC. THE FLIGHT PATH INCLUDED A NUMBER OF TURNS WITH DESCENTS AND ASCENTS. EVENTUALLY, THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED OVER LAKE MICHIGAN. THE LAST RADAR CONTACT WAS 6,700 FEET MSL. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT LOCATED IN SPITE OF AIR AND LAND SEARCHES CONDUCTED BY THE CIVIL AIR PATROL. THE AIRPLANE AND PILOT REMAIN MISSING.

Full Narrative

On March 15, 1993, at 1138 eastern standard time (EST), a Piper PA-28R-200, N15206, registered to Suburban Aviation, Inc. of Ottawa Lake, Michigan, disappeared while flying over Lake Michigan. The airplane is missing, and the solo commercial pilot is presumed dead. The pilot of the airplane departed toward Jackson, Michigan, with the intent of taking a flight instructor checkride. The airplane was last visible on radar, during a descent, approximately 11 miles southwest of Grand Haven, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time the airplane was believed to have been last observed on radar. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight originated from Lambertville, Michigan, at 1010 EST. The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Cleveland, Ohio, Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) having responsibility for the area between N15206's departure point and its last presumed contact stated a radar target was observed departing the Toledo Suburban Airport, Lambertville, Michigan, on March 15, 1993, at 1006 EST. He stated the aircraft had a non-discreet transponder code and was not positively identified as N15206 since there was no communication between the aircraft and ARTCC. The FAA representative stated the flight path and altitude of the aircraft was erratic. The flight path involved turns with descending and ascending spirals of various altitudes. The ARTCC representative stated the aircraft's last radar contact was Latitude 42 degrees, 52 minutes, 12 seconds North and Longitude of 86 degrees, 20 minutes, 12 seconds West. The representative stated the aircraft was approximately three to five miles west of Lake Michigan's eastern shore, and four miles south of the Coopersville, Michigan, radar site tracking south-southwest at an altitude of 6,700 feet when radar contact was lost. The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) conducted an investigation which included an air search of the area where ARTCC's last radar target identification was made. The results of the search were negative. The entire area where N15206 was presumed to have flown was over flown by CAP airplanes. The results of the over land search were also negative.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:38 EST
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireUnknown
Aircraft ExplosionUnknown

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28R-200
Tail NumberN15206
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorSuburban Aviation
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360 · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 20 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind210°
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point21 C / 9 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time15:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data