# NTSB CEN12LA626: Ison Eros, N4007B, Schoolcraft, MI, August 12, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 12, 2012, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Schoolcraft, MI - Coordinates: 42.109722, -85.630424 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1097&lon=-85.6304&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 12, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 85016 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA626 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85016/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85016 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA626 ## Probable cause The operation of an airplane by a non-certificated pilot and his failure to maintain airplane control during the initial climb, which resulted in an uncontrolled decent. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Ison EROS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=059011F), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ison EROS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=059011F), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Ison EROS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=059011F), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Ison EROS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=059011F), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane unexpectedly banked to the left during an initial climb over trees that were located at the departure end of an airstrip at the pilot's residence. The pilot regained control of the airplane about 25 feet above the ground and landed on a corn field. The pilot reported that there were no anomalies with the flight control system that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot did not hold a pilot certificate or an airman medical certificate. ## Factual narrative On August 12, 2012, about 1730 eastern daylight time, an Ison Aircraft Eros, N4007B, impacted terrain during initial climb from a private field near Schoolcraft, Michigan, following a loss of control. The pilot did not hold a pilot certificate or an airman medical certificate. The pilot was uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The airplane registration was not updated to show that it had been purchased by the pilot who was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed for the flight that was originating at the time of the accident. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot had been flying ultralight aircraft prior to his purchase of the accident airplane. The pilot stated he had accumulated a total flight time of about 30 hours in ultralight aircraft. The pilot did not hold an airplane medical or pilot certificate at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that he departed from his backyard and was performing short hops when the wind banked the airplane to the left as it climbed over trees. The wind was from the left. The pilot recovered the airplane about 25 feet above ground level and landed on a corn field. The pilot said that there were no mechanical anomalies with the flight controls. The FAA inspector stated that the airplane registration had not been transferred when the airplane was purchased by the pilot. The FAA asked the pilot to provide maintenance records for the airplane. Following the request, the FAA did not receive any of the records and was unable to establish if the airplane met aircraft inspection/maintenance requirements. The pilot then sold the airplane. A National Transportation Safety Accident/Incident Report, 6120.1, was not received from the pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4007B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4007B-2012-11-27), registration cancelled 2012-11-27, S/N 2644P, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ison Aircraft Eros - Registry model: [Ison EROS](https://openairdocs.org/model/ison-eros) (registry code 059011F) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2644P - Engines: Volkswagon 1600 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Sale Reported - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: Schoolcraft, MI - Destination: Schoolcraft, MI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; flight hours: 30 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: AZO, 7 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20120812019639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120812019639A), Aug 12, 2012: Ison Aircraft EROS, Schoolcraft, MI, Minor damage. Pilot taking off and aircraft made a left turn. Pilot recovered and leveled out about 25' above ground. Pilot landed in neighbor property running into corn… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 31, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85016. 117 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40392374&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA (item 2, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391868&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.