Michigan City Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Pullman, Michigan 49450
Sunday, August 24, 2008 15:06 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that the purpose of the local flight was to put approximately two hours flight time on the engine after some recent maintenance work. The pilot indicated that takeoff and initial climb were normal. After about 50 minutes of flight, the engine hesitated and began to lose power. The pilot noted an initial drop in engine speed of 200 revolutions per minute (rpm). He established a course toward an intermediate airport approximately 6 miles from his present position. His efforts to restore full engine power were not successful, and the engine ultimately lost all power. He executed a forced landing to a corn field, substantially damaging the airplane. A post-accident examination did not reveal any reason for the loss of power.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A complete loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the rough terrain encountered during the forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/24/2008
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1506
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Pullman
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49450
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 422755N
Event Location Longitude 0860448W
Event Location Airport Michigan City Muni
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MGC
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 56
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 655
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1453 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID BIV
Elevation of weather observation facility 698
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 17
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
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) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 16
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.05
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) 24494
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 22 2009 8:55AM
User who most recently changed record grol
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3901R
NTSB Number CHI08CA264
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 H
Aircraft Serial Number 172-55401
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 Aug 17 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 4623
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Jonathan W Winey
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Michigan City
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Jonathan W Winey
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Michigan City
Operator State IN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code --
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 No
Departure Airport Code MGC
Departure City Michigan City
Departure State IN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1415
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code MGC
Destination City Michigan City
Destination State IN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 6 2008 6:02PM
User who most recently changed record foxt
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --