Fremont Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Freemont, Michigan 49412
Friday, May 27, 2011 15:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane began to descend after takeoff and while on the crosswind leg of the airport traffic pattern. The pilot stated that he could not stop the airplane from descending before the airplane impacted trees. The passenger stated that the airplane was running fine and that it did not sound different before the accident. The pilot did not provide the propeller assembly for further examination to determine what may have reduced the airplane’s climb performance. The Michigan Department of State Police administered a preliminary breath test to the pilot after the accident; the pilot’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was 0.18%. The State Police Forensic Science Division’s laboratory report analyzed the pilot’s blood, which had a BAC of 0.15%. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), effects of a BAC of .18% can include confusion, dizziness, impaired visual perception, impaired balance, and moderate muscular incoordination.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s failure to attain a positive climb rate following takeoff for reasons that could not be determined because the propeller was not provided for further examination. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment from alcohol.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/27/2011
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Freemont
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49412
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 432622N
Event Location Longitude 0855942W
Event Location Airport Fremont Municipal Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FFX
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 772
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1400 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 10
Weather Observation Facility ID FFX
Elevation of weather observation facility 772
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 2
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 75
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30549
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 Sep 25 2012 7:51AM
User who most recently changed record galm
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N60147
NTSB Number CEN11LA365
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 BOEING
Aircraft Model A75N1 (PT17)
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 75-1951
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
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 1 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3885
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Pilot
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Fremont
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 49412
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Pilot
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Fremont
Operator State MI
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 49412
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code FFX
Departure City Freemont
Departure State MI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1430
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Freemont
Destination State MI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 2 2012 12:07PM
User who most recently changed record galm
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 09
Runway Length 3502
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --