Amateur-built YOUNGSTER accident near Grand Haven, Michigan, June 30, 2013
On June 30, 2013 at about 5:24 pm local time, a amateur-built YOUNGSTER, registered N258RV, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Grand Haven, Michigan (Grand Haven Memorial Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power due to carburetor icing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 2013 · about 5:24 pm local time
- Place
- Grand Haven, Michigan · Grand Haven Memorial Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built YOUNGSTER
- Registration
- N258RV · registry record · serial Y120
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he performed several fast taxi operations and did not note any problems with the engine. The taxi, pretakeoff run-up, and takeoff for the initial test flight in the amateur-built airplane were normal, but the engine gradually lost power after takeoff. The engine continued to lose power, and the airplane was unable to maintain altitude. During an attempted off-airport landing, the airplane impacted trees and terrain. The recorded temperature and dew point at the time of the accident were conducive to the accumulation of moderate carburetor icing at cruise power and serious icing at descent power. The pilot reported that he did not attempt to use carburetor heat during the flight because he had been taught that using carburetor heat reduces engine power. It is likely that the carburetor accumulated ice during the prolonged taxi operations before the takeoff. After the airplane became airborne, the carburetor ice continued accumulating and the engine continued to lose power to the point where continued flight was not possible.
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 engine power (partial) during maneuvering defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on equipment
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Ice/rain protection system › Intake anti › ice, deice › Not used/operated
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 275 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 230 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 24, 2013
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 1600 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3GM Grand Haven MI at 5:20 pm
- Destination: 3GM Grand Haven MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 3,752 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from MKG, 8 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.