- Date
- July 6, 1992, 20:45 local (Jul 7, 1992, 00:45 UTC)
- Place
- Gowen, MI
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N820FLJohansen Kitfox
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 31, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920706024359A
- Case key
- 15239
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
A total failure of the ignition system spark plugs and unsuitable terrain encountered by the pilot.
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 homebuilt airplane was on its initial climb after takeoff when the engine reportedly ceased to operate. The pilot turned to avoid colliding with large oak trees and subsequently collided with smaller pine trees during its approach and landing onto the emergency landing field. The on scene investigation revealed the two cylinder, two stroke engine had four spark plugs installed which did not fire when under a cylinder compression configuration. The spark plug gap was within the manufacturer's suggested range. The pilot stated he did not notice any problems with the engine when performing a magneto check during the pre-takeoff runup.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N820FL
- Reported as
- Johansen Kitfox
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 580
- Airframe hours
- 69
- Engine
- Rotax 582UL, 64 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Johansen, George A
- Registered owner
- Johansen, George A
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 9, 1992 · 15 hours before
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
- 55
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 353 total · 70 in this make and model · 295 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 250° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- GRR, 25 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.