Merillat Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tecumseh, Michigan 49286
Sunday, July 15, 1990 11:37 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING INITIAL CLIMBOUT FROM TAKEOFF THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT MADE AN OFF AIRPORT FORCED LANDING IN A BEAN FIELD DURING WHICH THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. A COMPLETE POWERPLANT ANALYSIS DURING TEARDOWN WAS NOT POSSIBLE DUE TO THE FACT THAT BOTH MAGNETOS AND WIRING HARNESS WERE STOLEN PRIOR TO THE TEARDOWN.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO UNKNOWN REASONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/15/1990
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1137
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City TECUMSEH
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49286
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MERILLAT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 3TE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 820
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1450 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 131
Weather Observation Facility ID JXN
Elevation of weather observation facility 1000
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 68
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2200
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 3
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1556
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 16 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1931
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42828
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 5:08PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8854M
NTSB Number CHI90LA175
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 BEECH
Aircraft Model A23
Aircraft Series Identifier A23
Aircraft Serial Number M-589
Certified Max Gross Weight 2350
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 13 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 49
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name J. L. FISHER DEVELOPMENT CORP.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 507 N. EVANS ST.
Aircraft Owner City TECUMSEH
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 49286
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
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1137
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 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 18
Runway Length 4000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --