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CHI92FA104

1992-03-05 · FREELAND, Michigan, United States · Fatal · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport MBS

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT IN ATTEMPTING FLIGHT AFTER THE AIRPLANE'S FUSELAGE WAS DAMAGED DURING A LOADING OPERATION. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE OPERATOR'S FAILURE TO PROVIDE PROPER WEIGHT AND BALANCE DATA FOR THE AIRPLANE, THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO SUPERVISE THE LOADING OPERATION, AND HIS FAILURE TO ACCEPT THE SERVICES OF A MECHANIC TO INSPECT THE DAMAGE.

Factual narrative

WHILE LOADING A PATIENT & HIS PERSONAL GEAR IN THE AIRCRAFT FOR AN AIR AMBULANCE FLIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT TIPPED ONTO ITS TAIL. AS A RESULT, THE TAIL BUMPER WAS FORCED UPWARD INTO THE BELLY OF THE EMPENNAGE. THE PILOT REFUSED THE OFFER TO HAVE A MECHANIC LOOK AT THE DAMAGE, AND REMARKED 'THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE.' AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT RADIOED TO THE TOWER THAT HE HAD A JAMMED ELEVATOR, AND WAS COMING AROUND TO LAND. WHILE MANUEVERING ON A BASE LEG, CONTROL WAS LOST & THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO CRASH WITH ONE WING PERPENDICULAR TO THE GROUND. ANOTHER AIRPLANE WAS IN THE TAKEOFF POSITION ON THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE WAS CONFIGURED WITH A HOSPITAL LITTER/STRETCHER AND OXYGEN BOTTLE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CABIN. THERE WAS NO RECORD FOR THE APPROVAL FOR, OR INSTALLATION OF, THE STRETCHER. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS NO WEIGHT & BALANCE RECORD FOR THE AIRPLANE WITH THE STRETCHER INSTALLATION. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1992_CHI92FA104.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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