Plane crash map Locate crash sites, wreckage and more

N16DV accident description

Michigan map... Michigan list
Crash location 46.353611°N, 87.395277°W
Nearest city Gwinn, MI
46.281056°N, 87.440972°W
5.5 miles away
Tail number N16DV
Accident date 25 Jun 2011
Aircraft type VanDenburg Pietenpol Air Camper
Additional details: None

NTSB Factual Report

On June 25, 2011, at 1430 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built VanDenburg Pietenpol Air Camper airplane, N16DV, was substantially damaged while landing at Sawyer International Airport (KSAW), Gwinn, Michigan. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the commercial pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was operated without a flight plan. The local flight departed KSAW at 1330.

The pilot reported that the landing approach to runway 1 (12,366 feet by 150 feet, concrete) was uneventful and that the airplane touched down on the runway centerline with ample runway remaining. During the landing roll the tailwheel-equipped airplane suddenly veered to the right. The pilot reported that he "over corrected" for the right veer which resulted in a ground loop to the left. The left main landing gear collapsed during the ground loop. The firewall and fuselage were substantially damaged during the accident. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. He further noted that the accident could have been prevented had he used smaller control inputs in response to the initial veer to the right.

At 1450, the airport's automated surface observing system reported the following weather conditions: wind 080 degrees at 6 knots; visibility 10 miles; sky clear; temperature 25 degrees Celsius; dew point 8 degrees Celsius; altimeter setting 29.92 inches of mercury.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s loss of directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop.

© 2009-2020 Lee C. Baker / Crosswind Software, LLC. For informational purposes only.