Where Do Most Plane Crashes Happen in Michigan?

Michigan Aviation Accidents Report: 2016–2025

A plane crash can change everything in an instant, leaving people with injuries, loss, and pressing questions about what comes next. This report from our plane crash lawyers examines Michigan airport accident data from 2016 through 2025, drawing on the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) census of U.S. civil aviation accidents.

The findings point to a clear pattern. When you compare Michigan’s primary commercial service airports with the almost 200 smaller aviation facilities spread across the state, the difference in where accidents happen is striking.

Michigan’s Airport System

Michigan’s aviation network keeps the state moving, supporting travel, commerce, emergency access, and everyday local mobility. According to the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Office of Aeronautics, that network includes:

• 15 primary commercial service airports
• 196 public-use general aviation airports, airfields, and heliports

Combined, those facilities total 211 entries in the 2026 Michigan Airport Directory. Commercial airports handle scheduled airline service for passengers and cargo. General aviation airports serve private flights, recreational flying, and other non-commercial operations.

Put simply, Michigan’s airport system reaches far beyond its commercial passenger terminals. The major hubs matter, but the bulk of day-to-day aviation activity unfolds across the wider general aviation network.

Primary Commercial Service Airports in MI

• Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport (DTW)
• Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR)
• Cherry Capital Airport (was Cherry County Airpark) (TVC)
• Bishop International Airport (FNT)
• Capital Region International Airport (was Lansing Capital City) (LAN)
• MBS International Airport (MBS)
• Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport (AZO)
• Marquette Sawyer Regional Airport (MQT)
• Pellston Regional/Emmet County Airport (PLN)
• Chippewa County International Airport (CIU)
• Houghton County Memorial Airport (CMX)
• Ford Airport (IMT)
• Delta County Airport (ESC)
• Alpena County Regional Airport (APN)
• Muskegon County Airport (MKG)

Review of Michigan Aviation Accident Data

The data tells a consistent story: most reported aviation events in Michigan happened away from the primary commercial service airports. Across the 2016 to 2025 period, the totals break down like this:

• Accidents at primary commercial service airports: 24
• Accidents at all other airports: 155

In percentage terms, commercial service airports accounted for roughly 13.4% of reported events, while every other airport made up the remaining 86.6%.

That gap matters. Large commercial airports tend to draw the most public attention, yet the numbers show that the vast majority of incidents occurred elsewhere across the state’s aviation network. In Michigan, the accident picture is shaped far more by what happens beyond the major airline hubs.

Source: National Transportation Safety Board. “Census of US Civil Aviation Accidents.” Accessed January 6, 2026.

Where Most Incidents Occur

The conclusion is hard to miss: most incidents in Michigan take place outside the commercial hubs. With 155 events at other airports against 24 at the primary commercial service airports, the broader non-commercial network accounts for nearly every reported event in this review period.

This does not diminish the importance of commercial airports. It simply shows they represent one piece of a much larger system. People often picture busy passenger terminals when they think about aviation risk, but in Michigan, the reported accident pattern points firmly toward the wider airport network.

The takeaway is straightforward. Any honest conversation about aviation accidents in Michigan has to include the state’s smaller public-use airports, not just its commercial hubs.

Accidents at Michigan’s Smaller Airfields

A major commercial hub might log only one or two accidents over an entire decade. Some smaller municipal airfields, by contrast, see them more often. Between 2016 and 2025, the figures included:

• Private: 14
• Ray Community Airport: 6
• Coleman A. Young Municipal: 5
• Willow Run International Airport: 5
• Mackinac County Airport: 4
• Oakland County International Airport: 4
• Ottawa Executive Airport: 4
• Paul C. Miller/Sparta: 4

After a Plane Crash

The days after a plane crash can feel overwhelming. You may be facing injuries, emotional trauma, lost income, mounting medical bills, and real uncertainty about what to do next. Even while the facts are still under review, the impact on individuals and families is often immediate and long-lasting.

The right support makes a real difference. Clear information, a solid understanding of your options, and guidance from someone who can help you move forward can turn a difficult situation into a manageable one. Whether an accident happens at a busy commercial airport or a quiet local airfield, the people affected deserve answers and steady guidance.

Our Grand Rapids personal injury lawyers are here to provide knowledgeable, compassionate support every step of the way. We can help you understand your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and take the first step toward resolving your case with confidence.