Amateur-built STOL CH750 accident near Dodgeville, Michigan, July 13, 2014
On July 13, 2014 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 2012 amateur-built STOL CH750, registered N792MC, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Dodgeville, Michigan (Mckenzie Highland Stables airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff resulting in an impact with a tree and terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 2014 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Dodgeville, Michigan · Mckenzie Highland Stables · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built STOL CH750, built 2012
- Registration
- N792MC · registry record · serial 75-8144
- 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 was performing a normal takeoff in the short take-off and landing (STOL) airplane on a short narrow grass runway. After the airplane became airborne about midfield it encountered unexpected crosswind turbulence near the edge of a tree line. The airplane drifted to the side, contacted the top of a tree, entered an aerodynamic stall, impacted terrain and came to rest on its nose resulting in substantial damage to the engine mount, forward fuselage, both wings, and both flaperons. The pilot credited the shoulder harness installation with saving him from more serious injury. The pilot also reported that there was no preimpact malfunction or failure.
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 visual reference during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff
- Cabin safety event during post (impact)
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
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine sea; single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,090 hours in all; 94 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 2,057 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 13, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 93 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 4, 2013; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jabiru 3300A (piston); 93 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CMX Houghton MI at 8:00 pm
- Destination: NONE Dodgeville MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 800 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 17 knots, gusting 31
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from KCMX, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on October 9, 2014. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Operator’s Aircraft Accident Report – NTSB Form 6120-1 | PDF, 12 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo - Wreckage as Viewed from the Left Side (Photo from Pilot) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.