Amateur-built IV accident near Iron Mountain, Michigan, December 25, 2021
On December 25, 2021 at about 2:25 pm local time, a 2016 amateur-built IV, registered N994PT, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Iron Mountain, Michigan (Ford Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total loss of engine power after takeoff for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 25, 2021 · about 2:25 pm local time
- Place
- Iron Mountain, Michigan · Ford Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built IV P, built 2016
- Registration
- N994PT · registry record · serial LIV-407
- 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 took off at a reduced winter takeoff power setting. Once airborne and established on a climb, he retracted the landing gear and flaps, added climb power in increments, and then noticed a failure displayed on the generator control unit annunciator. About the same time, the pilot noticed the engine was quieter and the airspeed was decreasing. Onboard data indicated that, upon reaching 650 ft above ground level, about 50 seconds after the takeoff roll was initiated, the engine power reduced to idle with a simultaneous decrease in fuel flow. Several seconds later, a generator control unit failure warning illuminated, and the voltage began to slowly decrease, consistent with the generator turning off. The airplane continued to descend straight ahead and impacted trees and terrain about one nautical mile from the departure end of the runway. Both wings, the empennage, and the engine separated from the fuselage. Following the accident, the condition lever was in an aft position. The pilot stated that, due to the altitude at the time he identified the loss of engine power, he did not take any actions to feather the propeller or restart the engine. A postaccident examination of the engine and related systems revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The recorded engine data is consistent with a reduction in commanded engine power and ultimately an in-flight shutdown. While it is possible that the condition lever came back with the flap activation and was not noted by the pilot, investigators were not able to determine when or how the condition lever was moved aft.
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 (total) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (turbine/turboprop) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,053 hours in all; 599 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 4,011 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 19, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 599 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, March 2, 2021; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Walters M601D (turboprop); 2,803 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 7FL6 Daytona Beach FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 010, 6,501 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 13 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.62 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 am from KIMT, 2 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KIMT 251354Z AUTO 33013G21KT 10SM CLR M04/M10 A2962 RMK AO2 PK WND 32026/1334 SLP045 T10441100
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN22LA089.