# Accident 19970728019849A: Amtr CHALENGER2SP, Bellaire, MI, July 28, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 28, 1997, 15:00 local time
- Place: Bellaire, MI
- Airport: Antrim County
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.9706° N, 85.2005° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9706&lon=-85.2005&mi=10
- Aircraft: N44LS, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44LS-2013-07-02) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Stratton Leon CHALLENGER II SPEC (registry code 05676PK, https://openairdocs.org/model/stratton-leon-challenger-ii-spec) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Bombardier ROTAX (ALL) (registry code 09050, https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR CHALENGER2SP
- Reported engine: ROTAX ROTAX580
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 600 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI97LA231](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA231) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970728019849A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

AIRCRAFT CRASHED WHILE ON APPROACH. (.4)CHALLENGER II, N44LS, WAS THE LAST OF SEVEN AIRPLANES TO DEPART FROM A TAXIWAY THAT WAS ORIENTED TOWARD WEST-NORTHWEST. THE PILOTS OF ALL PREVIOUS AIRPLANES DEPARTED WITH A RIGHT TURN OUT TO THE NORTH. WIND CONDITIONS AT THE TIME WERE OBSERVED TO BE GUSTY, WITH SEVERAL AIRPLANES HAVING DIFFICULTIES TAKING OFF. AFTER LIFTOFF, THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TURNING TOWARDS THE LEFT WHILE INCREASING ITS ANGLE OF BANK. THE AIRPLANE WENT INTO A STEEP LEFT BANK FOLLOWED BY A HIGH DESCENT RATE THAT CONTINUED UNTIL THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. ABOUT 5 MINUTES BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, THE WIND WAS REPORTED TO BE FROM 340 DEGREES AT 7 GUSTING 15 KNOTS. ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL ANOMALY WITH THE ENGINE OR THE FLIGHT CONTROLS.                                                                (-23) SHORTLY AFTER TAKE OFF THE AIRPLANE STARTED BANKING LEFT.  BANK INCREASED, AIRPLANE CRASHED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI97LA231](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA231), Jul 28, 1997: Stratton Challenger II (N44LS), Bellaire, MI, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: failure of the pilot to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff. The gusty wind condition was a related factor.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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