Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Newaygo, Michigan 49337
Sunday, January 30, 2011 14:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he was departing a plowed "airstrip" on an ice-covered lake. During the takeoff roll, the airplane veered to the left and the left wheel hit a snowbank on the left side of the airstrip. The airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and empennage. The pilot reported that the airplane experienced no mechanical malfunction or failure prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff from a frozen lake.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/30/2011
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1400
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Newaygo
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49337
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 432250N
Event Location Longitude 0854641W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1353 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID GRR
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3600
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.27
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) 28192
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 Feb 22 2011 11:24AM
User who most recently changed record silj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N127G
NTSB Number CEN11CA191
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 ERCOUPE
Aircraft Model 415-CD
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 4795
Certified Max Gross Weight 1150
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 Oct 9 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2515
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BUTTERMORE DALE D
Aircraft Owner Street Address 28 MAYFIELD NE
Aircraft Owner City GRAND RAPIDS
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 49503
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name BUTTERMORE DALE D
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 28 MAYFIELD NE
Operator City GRAND RAPIDS
Operator State MI
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 49503
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 --
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Newaygo
Departure State MI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 08C
Destination City Jenison
Destination State MI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 15 2011 2:53PM
User who most recently changed record silj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --