Oct. 25, Sparta, Mich. / Piper Cherokee 140

At about 07:17 eastern time, a Piper PA-28-140 crashed on initial climb from runway 24 at the Sparta Airport, killing the pilot and leaving the passenger seriously injured. An IFR flight plan was filed to Manassas, Va., but no departure clearance was given. Visibility at the airport was less than 1/4 to 1/8 mile. The aircraft struck trees and terrain about 300 feet left of the extended runway centerline and about 1,000 feet from the departure end of the runway.