Woolsey Memorial Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Northport, Michigan 49670
Monday, June 8, 1998 21:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

This was the first flight in this airplane after repairs. The pilot said he had less than one hour total time in this make and model of airplane. He made several approaches to the runway; however, when he attempted to land the airplane landed hard. The main landing gear collapsed rupturing the internal fuselage fuel tank.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's not maintaining airspeed, and his lack of total experience in this type of aircraft.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/8/1998
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 2130
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City NORTHPORT
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49670
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport WOOLSEY MEMORIAL AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 5D5
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 628
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2050 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 185
Weather Observation Facility ID TVC
Elevation of weather observation facility 624
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 26
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4000
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
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 Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 491
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 8 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2324
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Feb 16 2001 11:55AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5281U
NTSB Number CHI98LA194
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Leone
Aircraft Model SMITH MINI PLANE
Aircraft Series Identifier SMITH MINI
Aircraft Serial Number 035
Certified Max Gross Weight 1106
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
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 42
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERT R. MARTINSON
Aircraft Owner Street Address P. O. BOX 159
Aircraft Owner City SUTTONS BAY
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 49682
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code NONE
Departure City E. LELAND TWP
Departure State MI
Departure Country
Departure Time 2030
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 5D5
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 20 2001 6:29PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 9
Runway Length 3663
Runway Width 140
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --