Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Muskegon, Michigan 49445
Monday, August 1, 1983 20:50 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES AFTER PERFORMING AN AEROBATIC MANEUVER AT LOW ALTITUDE. WITNESSES NEAR THE SCENE SAID THE ACFT WAS FLYING LOW; MOST HEARD THE ENGINE RUNNING.SOME SAID THAT AT THE TOP OF A LOOP THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IT STOPPED. ON THE DESCENT FOLLOWING THE LOOP THE ACFT MADE ABOUT 2 ROLLS TO THE RIGHT AND LEVELED OFF. THEN A CRASH WASHEARD. A SINGLE WITNESS SAW THE ACFT ABOUT 50 FT ABOVE THE TREES. HE HEARD THE ENGINE ROAR AND SAW THE ACFT BANK ABOUT 45 DEGREES TO THE LEFT THEN COLLIDED WITH THE TREES. HE SAID THE ACFT HAD 'GOOD SPEED.' NO EVIDENCE OF FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION. THE BACK SEAT ADULT PASSENGER SAID THE ACFT PERFORMED WELL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/1/1983
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 2050
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MUSKEGON
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49445
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 8
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 160
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2141 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 190
Weather Observation Facility ID MKG
Elevation of weather observation facility 628
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
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) 30
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 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2061
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 22412
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N29938
NTSB Number CHI83FA347
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name NORTH AMERICAN
Aircraft Model AT-6D
Aircraft Series Identifier AT-6D
Aircraft Serial Number 49-3215
Certified Max Gross Weight 5300
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 Apr 25 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 8136
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name T. P. BALCH & M. G. QUESNELL
Aircraft Owner Street Address 211 E. HOME ST., P.O. BOX 548
Aircraft Owner City EDMORE
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48829
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 OSH
Departure City OSHKOSH
Departure State WI
Departure Country
Departure Time 1900
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 6D6
Destination City GREENVILLE
Destination State MI
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
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 --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --