Frankfort Dow Memorial Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Frankfort, Michigan 49635
Sunday, August 3, 2014 13:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot maneuvered the airplane to land on runway 33 at the destination airport. Wind was from 230 at 9 knots gusting to 15 knots. During the landing flare, the airplane landed hard and bounced. The nose of the airplane shifted 30 degrees from the runway heading so the pilot applied full power to perform a go-around. The left wing dropped and collided with terrain. The airplane was substantially damaged to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that he did not have recent experience in his tail wheel airplane. In addition, the pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing in gusty, crosswind conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot lack of recent tail wheel landing experience.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/3/2014
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1330
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Frankfort
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49635
Event Date Year 2014
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 443722N
Event Location Longitude 0861153W
Event Location Airport FRANKFORT DOW MEMORIAL FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FKS
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 141
Airport Elevation 633
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1735 Coordinated Universal Time? Same as GMT
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 327
Weather Observation Facility ID KFKS
Elevation of weather observation facility 632
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation UTC
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) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 15
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.1
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KFKS 031735Z AUTO 23009G15KT 10SM CLR 25/13
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 33241
NTSB Notification Source GRR FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 11 2014 5:56PM
User who most recently changed record aguj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N80AM
NTSB Number CEN14CA428
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 GREAT LAKES
Aircraft Model 2T 1A 2
Aircraft Series Identifier 2
Aircraft Serial Number 0829
Certified Max Gross Weight 1799
Aircraft Category Unknown
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 --
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1200
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name IRISH EXPRESS LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City GLENCOE
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 600221502
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Private Individual
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City GLENCOE
Operator State IL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 60022
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
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 FKS
Departure City Frankfort
Departure State MI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code FKS
Destination City Frankfort
Destination State MI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 15 2014 11:58AM
User who most recently changed record aguj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 33
Runway Length 4050
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --