Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Frankfort, Michigan 49635
Friday, March 14, 1986 6:05 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT WAS TAKING OFF FROM HIS LOCAL ARPT AND LOCAL RESIDENTS DESCRIBED CONDITIONS OF 100 FT VIS IN HEAVY GROUND FOG. AFTER LIFT-OFF HE BEGAN A LEFT TURN TOWARD A 300 FT HIGH RIDGE TOPPED BY 100 FT TREES. THE ACFT STRUCK THE TREE TOPS, THE PLT LOST CONTROL AND IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/14/1986
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 605
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City FRANKFORT
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49635
Event Date Year 1986
Event Date Month 3
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 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 275
Airport Elevation 628
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 550 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 75
Weather Observation Facility ID TVC
Elevation of weather observation facility 624
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 28
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Dawn
Lowest Ceiling Height 800
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Obscured
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
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 Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 3
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2502
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 14 1986 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 649
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 33349
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N123RM
NTSB Number CHI86FA102
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELLANCA
Aircraft Model 17-30A
Aircraft Series Identifier 17-30A
Aircraft Serial Number 84-30990
Certified Max Gross Weight 3325
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 20 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 100
Airframe Hours 384
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GORDON W. WILLOUGHBY
Aircraft Owner Street Address 200 GROVE PLACE
Aircraft Owner City FRANKFORT
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 49635
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 3D4
Departure City FRANKFORT
Departure State MI
Departure Country
Departure Time 604
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code GRR
Destination City GRAND RAPIDS
Destination State MI
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
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 --