Brighton Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Brighton, Michigan 48116
Saturday, April 21, 2007 13:40 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane impacted terrain while on final approach to runway 22 (3,120 feet by 24 feet, asphalt). The student pilot stated that the airplane "was caught in a downdraft/wind shear and was not able to clear perimeter fence, even with application of full power." The pilot reported there was a small valley to the northeast of the airport which "probably caused the downdraft." An on-scene investigation revealed that the airplane impacted the radio-antenna of a passenger vehicle operating on the road adjacent to the airport. The airplane then impacted a rising embankment and proceeded through the airport perimeter fence, coming to rest short of the approach threshold. The student pilot was flying with an expired 90 day solo endorsement and did not have a medical certificate. The student pilot was operating the airplane as a light-sport pilot. A local weather reporting station reported the winds were from 260 magnetic degrees at 4 knots at the time of the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilot's failure to maintain proper glidepath to the runway. Contributing factors to the accident included the passenger vehicle, the rising embankment, and the airport perimeter fence.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/21/2007
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1340
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Brighton
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48116
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 425337N
Event Location Longitude 0835956W
Event Location Airport Brighton Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 45G
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1335 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 292
Weather Observation Facility ID OZW
Elevation of weather observation facility 962
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
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) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.23
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 21576
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 Jun 27 2007 1:15PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Federal Aviation Administration, Detroit FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N99811
NTSB Number CHI07CA110
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Engineering & Research
Aircraft Model Ercoupe 415-C
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 2434
Certified Max Gross Weight 1260
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 42
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Robin D. Champness
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Farmington
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48335
Operator is an individual? Yes
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code 45G
Departure City Brighton
Departure State MI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1320
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 45G
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 7 2007 4:43PM
User who most recently changed record DINC
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 22
Runway Length 3120
Runway Width 24
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --