Dalton Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Flushing, Michigan 48433
Thursday, March 14, 1991 15:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT OF A SINGLE ENGINED TAILWHEEL AIRPLANE DID NOT ATTAIN PROPER ALIGNMENT WHILE PERFORMING A CROSSWIND LANDING IN GUSTY CONDITIONS. AIRPLANE CONTROL WAS NOT MAINTAINED AND THE AIRPLANE GROUNDLOOPED, COLLAPSING THE MAIN LANDING GEAR.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN PROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT AND NOT MAINTAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN A GROUND LOOP. FACTORS RELATING TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE THE GUSTY CROSSWIND CONDITIONS WHICH EXISTED AT THE TIME.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/14/1991
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City FLUSHING
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48433
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport DALTON
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 3DA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 733
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3500
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 35
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 18
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43038
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1406K
NTSB Number CHI91LA118
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 LUSCOMBE
Aircraft Model 8E
Aircraft Series Identifier 8E
Aircraft Serial Number 4133
Certified Max Gross Weight 1400
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOSEPH J. HEYSTEK
Aircraft Owner Street Address 240 A OAK ST.
Aircraft Owner City MONTROSE
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48457
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JOSEPH J. HEYSTEK
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 240 A OAK ST.
Operator City MONTROSE
Operator State MI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 48457
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone EST
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 Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 1740
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --