Dalton Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Flushing, Michigan 48433
Saturday, October 29, 2005 10:50 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The experimental amateur-built airplane, piloted by a student pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with trees during a forced landing following an in-flight loss of engine power during initial climbout for a local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot reported minor injuries. The pilot's accident report stated, "Engine failed in climb out within 1/8 mile of end of runway, over trees and housing. ... Larger tree sheered off left wing at leading edge. [Airplane] fell into middle of trees and came to stop on trees and bushes outside airport perimeter." Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any pre-impact anomalies.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power on initial climb for undetermined reasons. A factor was the tree the airplane impacted during the forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/29/2005
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1050
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Flushing
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48433
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 430325N
Event Location Longitude 0834825W
Event Location Airport DALTON
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 3DA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.5
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 733
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID FNT
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.41
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 19146
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Oct 29 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Feb 28 2006 12:35PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Detroit, MI, FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N62078
NTSB Number CHI06CA024
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 Colson/Goodbread
Aircraft Model Rans S-12
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 0293374
Certified Max Gross Weight 960
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
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 Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Oct 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 321
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Stephen E. Spence
Aircraft Owner Street Address 801 Sheffield Road
Aircraft Owner City Auburn Hills
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48326
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 3DA
Departure City Flushing
Departure State MI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1055
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 9 2005 5:39PM
User who most recently changed record DINC
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --