Lenawee County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Adrian, Michigan 49221
Friday, October 23, 2009 16:31 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The air traffic controller cleared the flight for a non-precision instrument approach and provided vectors to an intermediate fix located on the inbound course for the airport, which was reporting a ceiling of 700 feet above ground level. Radar track data revealed that, as the airplane proceeded on the inbound approach segment from the intermediate fix toward the final approach fix, there were significant heading changes and large altitude fluctuations, including rapid ascents and descents. As the airplane neared the final approach fix, instead of proceeding straight on the inbound course as called for by the approach procedure, it entered a left descending turn during which the rate of descent increased to 3,600 feet per minute. A witness reported hearing an airplane circle above his residence at a low altitude, but was unable to see the airplane due to a low cloud ceiling and limited ground visibility. He subsequently saw the airplane in a descent, about 200 to 300 feet above the ground, when the left wing separated from the fuselage. Another witness reported seeing the airplane rolling clockwise in a 45-degree nose-low descent before the left wing separated from the airplane. Neither witness reported seeing any smoke or fire until after the airplane collided with terrain. The postaccident examination did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. Additionally, the left wing main spar exhibited upward deformation consistent with an overload separation during flight. Pilots are vulnerable to spatial disorientation if they do not properly rely on cockpit instrumentation to maintain basic orientation while operating in instrument meteorological conditions. Because the airplane was in an overcast cloud layer throughout the instrument approach, the pilot lacked a discernible horizon; therefore, he would likely have been susceptible to spatial disorientation. The radar flight path and witness observations were consistent with the pilot becoming spatially disorientated and losing control of the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot did not maintain control of the airplane due to spatial disorientation while on an instrument approach in instrument meteorological conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/23/2009
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1631
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Adrian
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49221
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 415610N
Event Location Longitude 0835958W
Event Location Airport Lenawee County Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KADG
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 6
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 798
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1612 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 226
Weather Observation Facility ID KADG
Elevation of weather observation facility 798
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 6
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 700
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 17
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 23
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.47
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report SPECI KADG 232012Z AUTO 18017G23KT 6SM BR OVC007 1
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 29760
NTSB Notification Source Federal Aviation Administratio
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 26 2012 5:21PM
User who most recently changed record snyg
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6025U
NTSB Number CEN10FA027
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Commander Aircraft Company
Aircraft Model 114-B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 14611
Certified Max Gross Weight 3250
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 15 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 842
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name DEM Enterprises, LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Pueblo
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 81005-2174
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name DEM Enterprises, LLC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Pueblo
Operator State CO
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 81005-2174
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 KAVP
Departure City Scranton
Departure State PA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1329
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code KADG
Destination City Adrian
Destination State MI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 26 2012 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record foxt
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 23
Runway Length 5001
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --