# NTSB CHI87DEM01: Brown Acro Sport II, N3045E, Grand Haven, MI, October 19, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: October 19, 1986, 17:43 local (21:43 UTC)
- Place: Grand Haven, MI
- Coordinates: 43.050502, -86.220474 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0505&lon=-86.2205&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13560
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI87DEM01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13560/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI87DEM01

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Abrupt maneuver, takeoff - initial climb
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper climb rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - uncontrolled
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT AFTER TAKEOFF HE LEVELED OFF TO GAIN AIRSPEED AND THEN ENTERED A 60 DEGREE PITCH UP ATTITUDE. THE PILOT STATED AT ABOUT 400 FEET AGL HE NOTICED THE AIRSPEED WAS LOWER THAN 'NORMAL'. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND ENTERED A SPIN IMPACTING THE TERRAIN NEXT TO THE SAME RUNWAY FROM WHICH IT DEPARTED. WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE AIRCRAFT ENTER A NEAR VERTICAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, SPIN AND IMPACT THE TERRAIN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3045E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3045E-1989-09-28), registration cancelled 1989-09-28, S/N 135 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BROWN ACRO SPORT II (ACRO SPORT)
- Registry model: [Brown Michael H ACRO SPORT II](https://openairdocs.org/model/brown-michael-h-acro-sport-ii) (registry code 05646BB) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 135
- Airframe hours: 2519
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Stepehn Heckman
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, August 22, 1986, 30 hours before
- Departed: 3GM, GRAND HAVEN, MI
- Airport: 3GM, Grand Haven Memorial, runway 27, 3,750 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, invalid medical for flight; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,039 total, 50 in this make and model, 929 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Observed at: MKG, 20 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 19861019051639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861019051639A), Oct 19, 1986: Amtrea ACROSPORT, Grand Haven, MI, Destroyed, 1 fatal. The aircraft was pulled up steeply on takeoff and spun into the ground. Pilot reported engine failure, none found.

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.

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