Sharphorn Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chelsea, Michigan 48118
Saturday, July 11, 1987 21:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF FROM A 1800 FOOT SOD, UPSLOPING RUNWAY WITH TALL, WET GRASS. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS 2700 FEET. AS THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED OUT OF GROUND EFFECT THE PILOT SAID THE ENGINE SOUNDED 'FUNNY' AND ABORTED THE TAKEOFF. THE AIRCRAFT RAN OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY, STRUCK A TREE AND THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/11/1987
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 2130
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City CHELSEA
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48118
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SHARPHORN
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
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 959
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2054 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 260
Weather Observation Facility ID JAX
Elevation of weather observation facility 1000
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
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) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
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 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 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1515
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 14 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1356
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 34796
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:35PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2904A
NTSB Number CHI87LA166
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 PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28RT-201
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28RT-20
Aircraft Serial Number 28R7918212
Certified Max Gross Weight 2750
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1894
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HAND'S FLYING SERVICE INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 40493 PINE TREE
Aircraft Owner City PLYMOUTH
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48170
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 2129
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code YIP
Destination City YPSILANTI
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 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 21
Runway Length 1800
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --