- Date
- November 26, 2003, 11:10 local (16:10 UTC)
- Place
- Menominee, MI
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N297JBAmerican Champion 7GCBC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 29, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20031126030639A
- Case key
- 58401
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The Phillips screwdriver impacting the left tire on takeoff roll, and the deflated tire which did not allow directional control to be maintained during the subsequent landing.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane collided with the terrain following a loss of directional control while landing. The pilot reported that during his takeoff roll he felt a "slight bump" on the left side of the airplane which felt like he ran over something. He reported he disregarded the "bump" and continued the takeoff. Following a local flight he returned to the airport for a landing. He reported that upon landing "an object was hit by the left main tire, a bang was heard from what I assumed was an object hitting the left side of the fuselage." He reported that at the same time, the airplane pulled to the left. He applied "hard" right rudder and power with the intention of taking off. However, he reported, the airplane veered to the right with the right wing contacting the ground. The airplane skidded sideways for about 150 feet coming to rest off the departure end of the runway. During a post accident inspection punctures were found on the inside sidewall of the left tire. A small Phillips screwdriver was found near the point of takeoff.
Factual narrative
On November 26, 2003, at 1110 eastern standard time, an American Champion 7GCBC, N297JB, collided with the terrain following a loss of directional control while landing on runway 32 (5,100 feet by 100 feet, dry asphalt) at the Menominee-Marinette Twin County Airport (MNM), Menominee, Michigan. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The local flight originated from MNM, at 1050.
The pilot reported that during his takeoff roll he felt a "slight bump" on the left side of the airplane which felt like he ran over something. He likened the "bump" to running over a stone with a car. He reported he disregarded the "bump" and continued the takeoff. Following a local flight he returned to the airport for a landing. He reported that upon landing, "an object was hit by the left main tire, a bang was heard from what I assumed was an object hitting the left side of the fuselage." He reported that at the same time, the airplane pulled to the left. He applied "hard" right rudder and power with the intention of taking off. However, he reported, the airplane veered to the right with the right wing contacting the ground. The airplane skidded sideways for about 150 feet coming to rest off the departure end of runway 32.
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector conducted a post-accident investigation. The inspector found punctures on the inside sidewall of the left tire. The inspector stated a small Phillips screwdriver was found on the runway 32 near the point of takeoff.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N297JB
- Reported as
- American Champion 7GCBC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1279-99
- Airframe hours
- 138.1
- Engine
- Textron Lycoming O-320, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- William G. Boerner
- Registered owner
- Northern Aircraft Sales
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 9, 2003 · 14.4 hours before
- Departed
- MNM · Menominee, MI
- Destination
- MNM
- Airport
- MNM · Menominee-Marinette Twin Count, runway 32, 5,100 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 75
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- February 4, 2003
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 4,100 total · 600 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 34 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.92 inHg
- Observed at
- MNM
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.