Dalton Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Flushing, Michigan 48433
Tuesady, July 15, 2008 10:08 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The amateur-built, experimental amphibian airplane had just departed the grass airstrip. About 100 feet above ground level just beyond the departure end of the airstrip, the engine lost power. Seconds later, the airplane impacted a tree and the ground in a left wing down, nose low attitude. Inspection of the propeller revealed no evidence of rotation at the time of impact. The fuel tank contained about 8 gallons of fuel. Flight control continuity was established. The engine rotated and an engine run was conducted and it operated. The inspection of the airframe and fuselage revealed no preexisting anomalies. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/15/2008
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1008
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Flushing
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48433
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 430309N
Event Location Longitude 0834817W
Event Location Airport Dalton Airport
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 953 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 135
Weather Observation Facility ID FNT
Elevation of weather observation facility 782
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 6
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
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) 30.09
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) 25913
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jul 15 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 16 2009 3:50PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA Detroit FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N621CD
NTSB Number CHI08LA191
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 Drochak
Aircraft Model Aventura II
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number AA2A0130
Certified Max Gross Weight 1430
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats 2
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 Jul 21 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 47
Airframe Hours 47
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Clifford Drochak
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5277 Cedar Island Rd.
Aircraft Owner City White Lake
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48383
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Clifford Drochak
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 5277 Cedar Island Rd.
Operator City White Lake
Operator State MI
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 48383
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 3DA
Departure City Flushing
Departure State MI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1015
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 USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 27 2009 5:18PM
User who most recently changed record silj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 09
Runway Length 1633
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --