Boeing A75N1 (PT17) accident near Freemont, Michigan, May 27, 2011
On May 27, 2011 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Boeing A75N1 (PT17), registered N60147, was substantially damaged in an accident near Freemont, Michigan (Fremont Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to attain a positive climb rate following takeoff for reasons that could not be determined because the propeller was not provided for further examination. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment from alcohol.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 27, 2011 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Freemont, Michigan · Fremont Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing A75N1 (PT17) · all A75N1 (PT17)s on the register
- Registration
- N60147 · registry record · serial 75-1951
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane began to descend after takeoff and while on the crosswind leg of the airport traffic pattern. The pilot stated that he could not stop the airplane from descending before the airplane impacted trees. The passenger stated that the airplane was running fine and that it did not sound different before the accident. The pilot did not provide the propeller assembly for further examination to determine what may have reduced the airplane’s climb performance. The Michigan Department of State Police administered a preliminary breath test to the pilot after the accident; the pilot’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was 0.18%. The State Police Forensic Science Division’s laboratory report analyzed the pilot’s blood, which had a BAC of 0.15%. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), effects of a BAC of .18% can include confusion, dizziness, impaired visual perception, impaired balance, and moderate muscular incoordination.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Climb rate › Not attained/maintained
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- factor Personnel issues › Physical › Impairment/incapacitation › Alcohol › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,925 hours in all; 1,218 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 17,266 as pilot in command; 1,048 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 24, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,885 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W670 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FFX Freemont MI at 6:30 pm
- Destination: Freemont MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 3,502 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 167°F (75°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 6:00 pm from FFX, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.