- Date
- September 10, 1999, 19:32 local (23:32 UTC)
- Place
- Owosso, MI
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N51MJReichert MJ-77
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report June 21, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990910030979A
- Case key
- 47298
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 pilot's improper preflight which resulted in a takeoff with the oil cap not secured and the subsequent loss of engine power.
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
A witness saw the airplane take off westbound. He stated that he saw black contrails coming from the wings. The airplane returned to the airport in level flight about 100 to 150 feet above the ground. The airplane nosed down and crashed on the north side of the runway. Another witness saw the airplane trailing smoke similar to the smoke oil trails used by airshow performers. The second witness also stated that the airplane had black fluid coming from the trailing edge of the wings. The airplane came to rest inverted approximately 10 feet north of runway 10 and 300 feet east of the approach end of runway 10. An on-scene examination of the airplane wreckage revealed that the engine oil tank filler neck was found without its cap engaged. The pilot's logbook indicated the pilot flew a total of 11.1 hours in the accident airplane.
Factual narrative
On September 10, 1999, at 1932 eastern daylight time, a Reichert MJ-77, N51MJ, operated by a commercially rated pilot, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing at Owosso Community Airport, Owosso, Michigan. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed during the flight. The flight had departed Owosso Community Airport on runway 28 (3,800 feet X 75 feet dry/asphalt) and was returning to runway 10 at the time of the accident.
A witness saw the pilot perform a preflight inspection of the airplane and watched the airplane's takeoff and return. The witness said that the airplane took off to the west. He stated that he saw contrails coming from the wings. He said that the trails were black in color. He said that the airplane turned back to the airport and was in level flight about 100 to 150 feet above the ground. He said the engine was running. He stated that the airplane nosed down and crashed on the north side of the runway.
Another witness saw the airplane two to three miles from the airport. This witness said that the airplane was trailing smoke similar to the smoke oil trails used by airshow performers. He stated that the airplane had black fluid coming from the trailing edge of the wings. He stated that the airplane was in a bank when he saw it.
The airplane impacted the grass on the north side of the runway 10. The airplane came to rest inverted approximately 10 feet north of runway 10 and 300 feet east of the approach end of runway 10.
A Federal Aviation Administration investigator performed an on-scene examination of the airplane wreckage. The examination revealed that the entire rear fuselage was streaked with oil. The examination further revealed that the engine oil tank filler neck was found without its cap engaged. This filler neck and cap assembly has a positive locking feature when closed. The filler neck was found without any damage marks. The filler cap's locking tangs were found damaged.
The pilot's logbook was reviewed. The logbook indicated the pilot flew a total of 11.1 hours in the accident airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N51MJ
- Reported as
- Reichert MJ-77
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- JR77794-01
- Engine
- Ranger SGV-770C-1, 520 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- James Jacob Reichert
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- 5D3
- Destination
- 4D0 · Grand Ledge, MI
- Airport
- 5D3 · Owosso Community Airport, runway 10, 3,800 × 75 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
- 49
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 839 total · 11 in this make and model · 654 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 220° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 7,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FNT, 17 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.