Amateur-built S-1000 accident near Newberry, Michigan, August 22, 2003
On August 22, 2003 at about 10:35 pm local time, a amateur-built S-1000, registered N6195V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Newberry, Michigan (Luce County 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 inadequate compensation for the wind conditions, resulting in aircraft control not being maintained during the landing approach. Contributing factors to the accident were the gusting crosswind and the VASI system.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 22, 2003 · about 10:35 pm local time
- Place
- Newberry, Michigan · Luce County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built S-1000
- Registration
- N6195V · no longer on the register · serial 24
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane impacted a visual approach slope indicator (VASI) system during a landing attempt. The student pilot stated that while on final approach to runway 29 the airplane encountered a "very strong [wind] gust from the right (north)." The pilot reported the airplane "rolled left with a sudden drop of altitude." The pilot stated he increased engine power, but the aircraft impacted the runway. The pilot reported the airplane bounced off the runway and began to drift off the left side of the runway. The pilot stated he saw the VASI system and "heard a thud" when the airplane impacted it. The pilot reported he was able to regain aircraft control and landed on runway 04 without further incident. The winds were 320 degrees true at 9 knots gusting to 17 knots. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to the impact with the VASI system. The student pilot's most recent 90-day solo endorsement expired almost nine months prior to the accident.
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: 86 hours in all; 86 in this make and model; 86 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 278 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, January 18, 2003; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 52I Pinconning MI at 5:50 pm
- Destination: ERY Newberry MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 4,300 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 9 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 10:36 pm from ERY
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 N6195V 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.