Ison Aircraft Eros accident near Schoolcraft, Michigan, August 12, 2012
On August 12, 2012 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Ison Aircraft Eros, registered N4007B, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Schoolcraft, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The operation of an airplane by a non-certificated pilot and his failure to maintain airplane control during the initial climb, which resulted in an uncontrolled decent.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 2012 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Schoolcraft, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ison Aircraft Eros
- Registration
- N4007B · no longer on the register · serial 2644P
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane unexpectedly banked to the left during an initial climb over trees that were located at the departure end of an airstrip at the pilot's residence. The pilot regained control of the airplane about 25 feet above the ground and landed on a corn field. The pilot reported that there were no anomalies with the flight control system that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot did not hold a pilot certificate or an airman medical certificate.
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 during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Flight time: 30 hours in all
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagon 1600 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Schoolcraft MI at 9:30 pm
- Destination: Schoolcraft MI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 9:30 pm from AZO, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.