Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Gwinn, Michigan 49841
Sunday, July 16, 2000 20:50 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

An unregistered airplane was destroyed on impact with trees and terrain following takeoff. The uncertificated pilot was fatally injured. A neighbor stated, '... that he lives a few houses away from the crash site, and heard the engine of the aircraft 'reving up' for approximately 2 minutes, and then heard a loud 'boom.' He stated that he thought it was a crash, and went to the scene, and called 9-1-1 on his cellular telephone.' During an on-scene examination the aircraft was found in a nose-down attitude with its wing leading edges and cockpit area crushed. Three 5 gallon tanks were found. The ballistic chute had been deployed, did not open, and its attach cable was found under the left wing. The aircraft contacted a tree after takeoff. No pre-impact anomalies were found, the ignition produced spark, and the cylinders had compression. At 2055, weather was: Wind 230 degrees at 4 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 28 degrees C; dew point 14 degrees C; altimeter 29.82 inches of mercury. At 2055, density altitude at the Sawyer International Airport was 3,173 feet above mean sea level.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot not obtaining/maintaining altitude/clearance. Factors were the tree and the high density altitude.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/16/2000
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 2050
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City GWINN
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49841
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2055 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 40
Weather Observation Facility ID SAW
Elevation of weather observation facility 1221
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 3173
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 513
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jul 17 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 59
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Apr 20 2001 4:05AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number NONE
NTSB Number CHI00LA206
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Mead
Aircraft Model KOLB FIRESTAR II
Aircraft Series Identifier KOLB FIRES
Aircraft Serial Number
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Not Registered
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
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 --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name KENT S. MEAD
Aircraft Owner Street Address 506 E. M-35
Aircraft Owner City GWINN
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 49841
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code PVT
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
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 Apr 20 2001 4:05AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --