Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Schoolcraft, Michigan 49087
Wednesday, February 24, 1988 13:10 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE THE PILOT WAS CLIMBING THROUGH 7800 MSL HE NOTICED A VAPOR TRAIL COMING FROM THE RIGHT EXHAUST AREA. THE PILOT NOTIFIED APPROACH CONTROL THAT HE WAS RETURNING TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT AND THEY SUPPLIED RADAR VECTORS. THE PILOT STARTED A DESCENT AND DURING THIS TIME THE ENGINE POWER FADED FAST. CONSEQUENTLY HE DECIDED HE WAS NOT GOING TO MAKE IT BACK. THE PILOT CONTACTED APPROACH WHO THEN VECTORED HIM TO A SMALL AIRPORT APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES AWAY. THE PREMATURE DESCENT ALSO PLACED THE ALTERNATE AIRPORT OUT OF RANGE. THE PILOT CHOSE AN OPEN FIELD TO LAND IN. ABOUT 15 FT ABOVE THE GROUND THE AIRCRAFT STALLED. IT IMPACTED THE GROUND HARD ON ALL THREE LANDING GEAR. THE NOSE WHEEL COLLAPSED CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO NOSE OVER. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE #4 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE HAD FAILED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/24/1988
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1310
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City SCHOOLCRAFT
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49087
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 2
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1310 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 25
Weather Observation Facility ID AZO
Elevation of weather observation facility 874
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 7
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1200
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 2
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -6
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
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 Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 902
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 24 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1330
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 36899
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:32AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N14142
NTSB Number CHI88DEM01
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name NORTH AMERICAN
Aircraft Model T-28A
Aircraft Series Identifier T-28A
Aircraft Serial Number 51-3756
Certified Max Gross Weight 7400
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 17 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 3100
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GRAFTON INSURANCE AGENCY, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 101 FALLS ROAD
Aircraft Owner City GRAFTON
Aircraft Owner State WI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 53024
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 AZO
Departure City KALAMAZOO
Departure State MI
Departure Country
Departure Time 1301
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code C31
Destination City HARTFORD
Destination State WI
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 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --