Amateur-built Micro Mong accident near Petersburg, Michigan, June 8, 2001
On June 8, 2001 at about 8:20 pm local time, a amateur-built Micro Mong, registered N426RT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Petersburg, Michigan (Air Rahe 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
Aircraft control not being maintained by the pilot during the forced landing. Factors to the accident were the loss of engine power, the overtemperature of the piston, the hole in the top of the number-one piston, and the encountered stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 2001 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Petersburg, Michigan · Air Rahe · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Micro Mong
- Registration
- N426RT · no longer on the register · serial 214
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The aircraft departed on a westerly heading and experienced a loss of engine power approximately 70-feet above ground level (agl). The witnesses reported that after the loss of engine power, the aircraft entered a left banking turn, subsequently striking the terrain. According to the pilot's written statement, "I am unable to recall the details of the accident that occurred on June 8, 2001." Subsequent to the accident, the pilot received medical attention including major surgery and care for a resulting coma. Post-accident inspection of the aircraft engine revealed that the number-one (front) cylinder spark plug had aluminum deposits on its electrode and insulator. Further inspection of the number-one cylinder assembly revealed a hole burned in the top of its piston.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 195 hours in all; 47 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 173 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 11, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 31, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 577 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: 2Si 460-L50 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MI06 Petersburg MI at 8:20 pm
- Destination: MI06 Petersburg MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 270, 2,300 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from ADG, 17 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.