Gerald R. Ford International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Grand Rapids, Michigan 49588
Saturday, February 1, 2003 8:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane received substantial damage during a high speed pull-up while recovering from an unusual attitude after a loss of control during an instrument training flight in actual instrument meteorological conditions. The ceiling was reported to be overcast at 700 feet above ground level. The airplane subsequently returned to the departure airport. The certified flight instructor who was on-board the airplane reported that pre-departure checks of the flight instruments were normal. He said that, during the flight the gyroscopic flight instrument became unusable. A postaccident examination revealed that the turn coordinator circuit breaker was in the open position. Further testing revealed no detectable defects in the gyroscopic flight instruments and instrument pressure system.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control which resulted in the overload of the aircraft. Spatial disorientation, an inoperative turn coordinator, and the pilot's misinterpretation of the flight instruments were contributing factors.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/1/2003
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 800
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Grand Rapids
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49588
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 425251N
Event Location Longitude 0853122W
Event Location Airport Gerald R. Ford International
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KGRR
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 756 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID GRR
Elevation of weather observation facility 793
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 700
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 0
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.89
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KGRR 011056Z 31011KT 1 1/2SM -FZDZ BR OVC001
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13934
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Feb 6 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 30 2003 9:55AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Grand Rapids, Michigan

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5677X
NTSB Number CHI03LA063
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model A36
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number EZ797
Certified Max Gross Weight 3650
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 2 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 14
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Hole Shot Racing Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1505 Oak Hollow Drive
Aircraft Owner City Brighton
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48380
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Larry L. Brown
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1526 Moccassin
Operator City Pontiac
Operator State MI
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 48054
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code GRR
Departure City Grand Rapids
Departure State MI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 750
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Unknown
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jul 30 2003 3:37PM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --