Miller Lancair 235 accident near Tecumseh, Michigan, December 5, 2001
On December 5, 2001 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Miller Lancair 235, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N417EM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tecumseh, Michigan (Tecumseh Merillat 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
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the takeoff. Factors relating to the accident were the crosswind and the wind gusts.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 5, 2001 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Tecumseh, Michigan · Tecumseh Merillat Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Miller Lancair 235, amateur-built
- Registration
- N417EM · registry record · serial 72819
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said, "With mixture full rich and full throttle I started my take off roll. After reaching 63 to 65 mph the aircraft became air born with slight back pressure on the stick. While trying to correct for cross wind from about 190 [degrees] to 195 [degrees], I noticed the aircraft was being blown to the right of the runway in the direction of a roll [row] of trees and the wind had shifted. At the same time, I noticed my airspeed was becoming to low so I lowered the nose of the aircraft to increse [increase] my airspeed. At this point it appeared the aircraft was heading back to the center of the runway when a gust of wind cought [caught] the right wing and blew the aircraft just enough for the left wing tip to touch the ground. At this time I lost all control of the aircraft." An examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. The wind conditions recorded 8 minutes prior to the accident at Toledo Express Airport, Toledo, Ohio, 24 miles south of the accident site, were 210 degrees magnetic at 14 knots with gusts to 20 knots.
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: 243 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 243 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 25, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 253.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 23, 2001; 1.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 34G Tecumseh MI at 8:00 pm
- Destination: 69I Batavia OH
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 18, 2,922 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 14 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 7:52 pm from TOL, 24 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.
Other NTSB records under N417EM the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.