One Killed, Tower Warned of Low Altitude

The pilot of a Cheyenne IIXL, Piper PA-31T2 N85EM, died when his aircraft impacted the ground in a heavily wooded area near Harrison, MI, on Friday night.  No other passengers were aboard. The aircraft departed Seneca County Airport (KTVC) heading to Cherry Capital Airport (K16G).

Clare County police and fire rescue teams were on the scene within 30 minutes, thanks in part to eyewitness reports. The wreckage was also easy to spot in the dark as it was engulfed in heavy flames.

Local police reported that Minneapolis Center tracked the flight and radioed an altitude alert to the aircraft prior to the incident. A 911 call from an onlooker stated the plane "was going down and it was spinning and spinning and spinning."

The pilot was identified as Jerry L. Burgderfer, 58, of Tiffen, OH. According to a statement by his son-in-law, Kevin Reinbolt, in the Ohio newspaper Advertiser-Tribune, Bergderfer worked for Tiffen Aire and had been flying for more than 18 years.  He was also known as a grandfather and charter boat captain on Lake Eerie.

Piper PA31T2 Cheyenne IIXL File Illustration

The 1982 PIPER PA-31T2 was co-owned by Cheyenne Sales and Leasing LLC of Tiffen, OH.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov