North American Navion A (L-17B) accident near Zeeland, Michigan, August 13, 2005
On August 13, 2005 at about 3:00 pm local time, a North American Navion A (L-17B), registered N8828H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Zeeland, Michigan (Ottawa Executive airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power after takeoff due to a fuel selector valve leak and low altitude and low airspeed at the time of power loss. A factor was the recommended maintenance service for the fuel selector not performed by the airplane owner/pilot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 13, 2005 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Zeeland, Michigan · Ottawa Executive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American Navion A (L-17B)
- Registration
- N8828H · no longer on the register · serial NAV-4-828
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane impacted terrain following a total loss of engine power after takeoff. Examination of the airplane revealed internal and external leakage of the fuel selector. The airplane manufacturer issued a service bulletin about 13 months before the accident calling for the removal and replacement of fuel selectors which encompassed the accident airplane. This service bulletin was not complied with by the airplane owner who was also the pilot-in-command of the airplane. An engine test run was performed and no anomalies that precluded normal operation were noted. The engine exceeded the engine manufacturer recommend time between overhaul of twelve years. The airplane was not certified and not equipped with shoulder harnesses. The pilot and passenger sustained serious injuries.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,561 hours in all; 1,326 in this make and model; 1,561 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-B6B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Z98 Zeeland MI at 3:00 pm
- Destination: Grand Haven MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 02, 3,800 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from BIV, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.