Ann Arbor Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Saline, Michigan 48176
Friday, May 25, 2012 11:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he was maneuvering the airplane at a low altitude when the experimental light sport airplane stalled, resulting in an "extremely hard drop" and impact onto the landing gear. He noted that there was insufficient altitude available to recover from the aerodynamic stall. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions that precipitated the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot did not maintain proper control of the airplane while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/25/2012
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1145
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Saline
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48176
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 421056N
Event Location Longitude 0834308W
Event Location Airport Ann Arbor Municipal
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ARB
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 3
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 839
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1153 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 338
Weather Observation Facility ID ARB
Elevation of weather observation facility 839
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 3
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 21
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.94
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30195
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 Aug 1 2012 5:10PM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N192RR
NTSB Number CEN12LA318
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 AEROS LTD/SKYRANGER AIRCRAFT
Aircraft Model SKYRANGER II
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number SKRB0503589
Certified Max Gross Weight 1042
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 Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Sep 21 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 138
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Richard J Rochefort
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Saline
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48176-9299
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Richard J Rochefort
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Saline
Operator State MI
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 48176-9299
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 ARB
Departure City Ann Arbor
Departure State MI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1130
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code ARB
Destination City Ann Arbor
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 12:20PM
User who most recently changed record sort
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 --