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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

October 24, 1999 · Welch Murphy Rebel Murphy REB · N8160X

Saint Johns, MI

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 24, 1999
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Saint Johns, MI
Aircraft
Welch Murphy Rebel Murphy REB
Tail Number
N8160X
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI00LA015

The pilot stated that he attempted a 3-point landing with 30 degrees of flaps. He said a gust of wind blew him up about 10 feet and another gust turned him 90 degrees to the left. He said that he started a go around with the airplane with flaps at 30 degrees. He reduced the airplane's flaps to 10 degrees. He stated the flap lever released from the 10-degree setting and that he must not have set the flap lever all the way down in its notch. The pilot said the plane sunk about 5 feet and the airplane's tail hit the top of the trees first. The pilot listed 4.4 hours of total flight time in this make and model airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot not maintaining altitude and clearance. Factors were the trees, the flap control not fully engaged, and the pilot's lack of total experience in the kind of airplane flown.

Full Narrative

On October 24, 1999, at 1230 eastern daylight time, a Welch Murphy Rebel, N8160X, built and piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with trees during a go around on runway 25 (3,425 feet X 120 feet, dry/grass) at Schiffer Acres Airport near Saint Johns, Michigan. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in Visual Meteorological Conditions. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The flight originated from Glowacki Airport, near Saint Johns, Michigan at 1200 and was performing landings at the time of the accident. At 1255, the Capital City Airport, Lansing, Michigan weather observation was: Wind 290 degrees at 11 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition broken 2,500 feet; temperature 4 degrees C; dew point 0 degrees C; altimeter 30.19 inches of mercury. The pilot stated that he attempted a 3-point landing with 30 degrees of flaps. He said that he encountered two gusts of wind. He said that the first gust blew him up about 10 feet and the second had turned him 90 degrees to the left. The pilot said, "I eased the power in until I was going in one direction. At this point-going down wind-it didn't look like enough room to land. I added full power (she normally will climb 11-1200 FPM) but I wasn't climbing-I still had 30 of flaps-I took one notch off and we started to climb. I got to 45, took another notch off, still climbing-almost to the top of the trees-got to 50, decided to leave last 10 of flaps on until we cleared the trees-at the rate we were climbing. I started to level off a bit to get a little more airspeed, at that moment I heard a bang. The flap lever released (I must not have set the lever all the way down in the notch) with the flaps removed the plane sunk maybe 5'-we didn't have 5' and with a tail wind it was like being pulled by a rope-you are just along for the ride. The tail hit the top of the trees first...." The pilot listed 4.4 hours of total flight time in this make and model airplane.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:30 EDT
Nearest AirportSchiffer Acres Airport (0nm N)
Runway25
Runway Length3425 ft
Runway Width120 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftWelch Murphy Rebel Murphy REB
Tail NumberN8160X
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-235C1 · Reciprocating · 108
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 53 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind290° @ 11 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 2500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point39 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time17:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data