Green Lake Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Interlochen, Michigan 49684
Tuesady, August 2, 1994 18:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 34. THE RUNWAY IS SURROUNDED ON ALL SIDES BY 50 FOOT TREES. HE STATED THAT RIGHT AFTER TAKEOFF, THE WIND SHIFTED 180 DEGREES AND THE AIRPLANE LOST AIRSPEED. HE TRIED TO LAND BACK ON THE RUNWAY BEFORE THE AIRPLANE HIT THE TREES AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE HIT HARD, BROKE THE LANDING GEAR, AND NOSED OVER. THE WIND AT THE NEAREST REPORTING STATION, 13 MILES NORTHEAST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE, WAS 050 AT 8 KNOTS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the failure of the pilot to obtain the proper climb rate, and inadequate compensation for wind conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/2/1994
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1800
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City INTERLOCHEN
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49684
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GREEN LAKE AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID Y88
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 866
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1745 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 40
Weather Observation Facility ID TVC
Elevation of weather observation facility 624
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 13
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 20000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 50
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1703
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 5 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:58AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N38KH
NTSB Number CHI94LA267
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name DE HAVILLAND
Aircraft Model TIGER MOTH DH-82A
Aircraft Series Identifier TIGER MOTH
Aircraft Serial Number
Certified Max Gross Weight 1825
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HARV AIR, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8400 E. HANDEL RD.
Aircraft Owner City LODI
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95240
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ELMER E. SANDMIRE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 120
Operator City ARNOLD
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 95224
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1800
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 34
Runway Length 2100
Runway Width 200
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --