Claire County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Harrison, Michigan 48625
Sunday, January 22, 2006 14:40 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane contacted trees and the terrain while in the airport traffic pattern. There were no known witnesses to the accident; however, several witnesses reported seeing the airplane flying in the area prior to the accident. One witness reported seeing the airplane touchdown on runway 18 but did not see whether or not it stayed on the ground or if the pilot performed a touch and go. Data downloaded from a hand-help global positioning system foundin the wreckage revealed a track beginning near the pilot's departure airport at 1335. Although there are several heading changes the track continues toward the accident airport. The track showed the airplane continued west until reaching the north end of the runway. The track then turned to the south and followed the length of the runway prior to making a turn to the east. The track then showed the airplane heading north to a point approximately 2.5 statute miles north of the airport. The track then turned to the south, heading back toward the airport. According to the data, the airplane continued on a course which varied between 186 and 175 degrees true. The data also showed the airplane's ground speed decreasing from 99 miles per hour to 51 miles per hour during this period. The last data point showed the airplane on a heading of 157 degrees true with a speed of 56 miles per hour. The airplane came to rest in a wooded area approximately 500 feet east of the runway and approximately 1,000 feet north of the south end of the runway. The airplane contacted trees, which were approximately 40 feet tall, prior to impacting the ground. The airplane impacted the terrain in an approximate 45-degree nose down attitude. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any failure/malfunction of the flight controls or engine which would have resulted in the accident. Toxicological tests detected Chlorpheniramine, Tetrahydrocannabinol (Marijuana), Tetrahydrocannabinol Carboxylic Acid (Marijuana), Phenylpropanolamine, and Psuedoephedrine in blood and tissue samples.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall. A factor associated with the accident was the pilot's impairment due to drugs.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/22/2006
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1440
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Harrison
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48625
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 440310N
Event Location Longitude 0844845W
Event Location Airport Claire County Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 80D
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 --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1529 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID 80D
Elevation of weather observation facility 1142
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
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) 39
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 207
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.08
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 21111
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 26 2007 9:33AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8540B
NTSB Number CHI06LA070
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 Cessna
Aircraft Model 172
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 36240
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 4
Airframe Hours 5379
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Michael Watson
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Davison
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48423
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code HYX
Departure City Saginaw
Departure State MI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1330
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 80D
Destination City Harrison
Destination State MI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 4 2007 3:16PM
User who most recently changed record DINC
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --