Muskegon County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Muskegan, Michigan 49441
Sunday, September 11, 2011 10:27 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was attempting to take off on an instructional flight when the tailwheel-equipped airplane veered and ground looped toward the right before it nosed over. The pilot stated that he did not apply left rudder soon enough to avoid the loss of directional control. The flight instructor stated that he attempted to apply corrective control input, but the pilot was applying opposite control input and did not reduce engine power as he was instructed.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's loss of directional control during the takeoff roll and the flight instructor's inability to apply remedial action due to the opposite corrective control inputs by the pilot.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/11/2011
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1027
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Muskegan
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49441
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 431004N
Event Location Longitude 0861408W
Event Location Airport Muskegon County Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MKG
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 629
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 1021 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID MKG
Elevation of weather observation facility 629
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 300
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Overcast
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 65
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
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 None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30453
NTSB Notification Source FAA-ACE-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 9 2012 2:38PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5383H
NTSB Number CEN11LA642
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA16
Aircraft Series Identifier NO SERIES
Aircraft Serial Number 16-190
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Aircraft Owner/Pilot
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Grand Haven
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 49417
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Aircraft Owner/Pilot
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Grand Haven
Operator State MI
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 49417
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code MKG
Departure City Muskegan
Departure State MI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1027
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 3GM
Destination City Grand Haven
Destination State MI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 26 2012 4:42PM
User who most recently changed record galm
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 14
Runway Length 6100
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --