# Accident 20180723017669A: Aeros VENTURE, Bad Axe, MI, July 23, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 23, 2018, 16:45 local time
- Place: Bad Axe, MI
- Airport: Huron Count Memorial Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.7806° N, 83.0006° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7806&lon=-83.0006&mi=10
- Aircraft: N43865, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N43865-2018-12-27) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aeros VENTURE (registry code 05904QO, https://openairdocs.org/model/aeros-venture) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROS VENTURE
- Reported engine: VOLKSWAGEN 1800 CC SERIE
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 14,000 total, 1 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC18LA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC18LA057) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180723017669A

## Narrative

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

THE AIRCRAFT WAS ENROUTE TO THE PILOT?S HOME APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES NORTHWEST OF THE AIRPORT AND STRUCK A TREELINE A HALF-MILE WEST OF THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT WAS DECEASED AT THE SCENE.

THERE WAS NO POST CRASH FIRE AT THE SITE. VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE IVO 68? 3 BLADE PROPELLER FOUND NO DAMAGE TO TWO OF THE THREE BLADES BUT ONE OF THE BLADES HAD AN 7 INCH PIECE BROKEN OFF OF THE TIP AND WAS FOUND LYING ON THE GROUND NEAR THE ENGINE INDICATING IMPACT DAMAGE FROM THE TREE. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE FROM THE PROPELLER ASSEMBLY THAT IT WAS ROTATING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

THE FUEL TANK WAS FOUND UPRIGHT AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE APPROXIMATELY 25 FOOT FROM THE IMPACT POINT. THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE TANK WAS COMPROMISED ON ONE SIDE BY THE IMPACT AND WAS FOUND CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES. THE TANK HAD NO FUEL IN IT AT THE ACCIDENT SITE AND ONLY ONE FUEL LINE WAS FOUND WITH A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE LINE. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN ANY OF THE FUEL FILTERS. THERE WAS ALSO NO RESIDUAL FUEL FOUND BELOW THE TANK AT THE ACCIDENT SITE.

INSPECTION OF THE WING TUBES/CABLES SHOWED MAJOR DAMAGE THROUGHOUT ALL PARTS AND IT WAS INCONCLUSIVE AT THE SCENE WHETHER THE WING WAS STRUCTURALLY INTACT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

STATEMENTS FROM SEVERAL WITNESSES AND THE PILOT HIMSELF JUST PRIOR TO THE CRASH INDICATED THAT THE PILOT WAS HAVING STABILITY/CONTROL ISSUES ON HIS FIRST FLIGHT JUST PRIOR TO THE CRASH AND  ALSO DURING THE FATAL FLIGHT AS INDICATED BY HIS SLOW SPIRAL TO THE GROUND.

WITNESSES STATED THAT THE DECEASED PILOT HAD JUST PURCHASED THE AIRCRAFT AND THAT THIS WAS THE DECEASED PILOTS 2ND FLIGHT IN THIS AIRCRAFT.

## 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 ANC18LA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC18LA057), Jul 23, 2018: Aeros Venture 2000 (N43865), Bad Axe, MI, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of aircraft control for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

## Other reports on N43865 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20080601838589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080601838589A), Jun 1, 2008: Amtr VENTURE (N43865), Baldwin City, KS, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot was unable to control the aircraft (weight shift control light sport aircraft) during the attempted landing on runway 16 at Vinland Valley…

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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