Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Detroit, Michigan 48211
Sunday, May 3, 1987 16:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE ON APPROACH TO DETROIT CITY AIRPORT THE #1 CYLINDER FRACTURED AND SEPARATED RESULTING IN ENGINE FAILURE. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD APPROX. FOUR MILES WEST OF THE AIRPORT. EXAMINATION OF THE BROKEN CYLINDER REVEALED THE MODE OF THE FRACTURE WAS FATIGUE. DURING THE FORCED LANDING THE LEFT MAIN AND NOSE GEARS WERE BROKEN OFF.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/3/1987
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1630
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City DETROIT
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48211
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 5
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 1658 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 300
Weather Observation Facility ID DET
Elevation of weather observation facility 626
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 4
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 8000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
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) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
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 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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 742
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 3 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1830
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 33942
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:23PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N60023
NTSB Number CHI87LA120
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 150J
Aircraft Series Identifier 150J
Aircraft Serial Number 15070010
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 30 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 7
Airframe Hours 2924
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NIGHTHAWK AIR, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 18288 EMPIRE
Aircraft Owner City EAST DETROIT
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48021
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CHARLES SPICER
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 11201 CONNER
Operator City DETROIT
Operator State MI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 48213
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code LAN
Departure City LANSING
Departure State MI
Departure Country
Departure Time 1430
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code DET
Destination City DETROIT
Destination State MI
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
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 --