Oakland-Troy Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Algonac, Michigan 48001
Thursday, April 1, 2010 13:05 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Local residents observed the airplane flying low along the river. They reported that it entered a bank in the direction of their residence and at one point the wings were perpendicular to the water. The nose of the airplane suddenly dropped and it descended, ultimately striking the dock and shallow water. The airplane came to rest inverted, partially supported by the boat dock and partially in the river. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not identify any anomalies consistent with a preimpact failure or malfunction. While Diphenhydramine, an over-the-counter antihistamine that commonly results in impaired performance, was found in the pilot’s blood at a level consistent with recent use, the investigation was not able to definitively conclude that the pilot suffered from impairment.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s loss of control resulting from an aerodynamic stall/spin while maneuvering at low altitude.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/1/2010
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1305
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Algonac
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48001
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 433720N
Event Location Longitude 0823424W
Event Location Airport Oakland-Troy
Event Location Nearest Airport ID VLL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 25
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 727
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1255 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 276
Weather Observation Facility ID MTC
Elevation of weather observation facility 580
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 13
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 22000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 12
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.87
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) 27869
NTSB Notification Source FAA-AGL ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 8 2010 1:51PM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N853CZ
NTSB Number CEN10FA182
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CZECH AIRCRAFT WORKS SPOL SRO
Aircraft Model MERMAID
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 06MM008
Certified Max Gross Weight 1430
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 Nov 3 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 4
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Michigan Sport Aviation LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Grosse Point
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48230
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Michigan Sport Aviation LLC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Grosse Point
Operator State MI
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 48230
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 VLL
Departure City Troy
Departure State MI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1200
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code VLL
Destination City Troy
Destination State MI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 28 2010 5:41PM
User who most recently changed record sort
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 --