Amateur-built S-12 accident near Hartford, Michigan, June 9, 2000
On June 9, 2000 at about 1:00 am local time, a amateur-built S-12, registered N3148E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hartford, Michigan (Private Airstrip airport). 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
restricted directional control. Factors relating to this accident were the rough, uneven runway, and the trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 2000 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Hartford, Michigan · Private Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built S-12
- Registration
- N3148E · no longer on the register · serial 05960726
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said that during takeoff from a private airstrip, the airplane 'hit 3 bumps in the runway causing the nose gear to jam to the right, holding it in [an] unrecoverable slip condition [and], not allowing the aircraft to climb or turn left.' The pilot said that the left wing hit trees causing the airplane to flip over on to its back. Examination of the wreckage showed the airplane's nose wheel deflected and stuck to the right. Examination of the remaining airplane systems revealed no anomalies.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 20 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 8 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 186 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 14, 2000; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 580 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503-DLD1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:00 am from AZO, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.