Amateur-built Acro Sport II accident near Coldwater, Michigan, August 12, 2006
On August 12, 2006 at about 2:09 pm local time, a amateur-built Acro Sport II, registered N208BY, was substantially damaged in an accident near Coldwater, Michigan (Branch County Memorial airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and the pilot's failure to maintain sufficient airspeed during the resulting forced landing which resulted in the inadvertent stall and subsequent impact with the ground. The rising terrain was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 2006 · about 2:09 pm local time
- Place
- Coldwater, Michigan · Branch County Memorial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Acro Sport II
- Registration
- N208BY · no longer on the register · serial RED243
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane impacted the ground during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot reported that during a go-around, the engine lost power as if the throttle became disconnected. The propeller did not windmill and came to a stop. He stated that he did not have time to re-start the engine and selected a field to land in. He stated that upon landing, the airplane struck a ditch, which collapsed the landing gear, and the airplane caught fire. Examination of the wreckage showed that the airplane impacted the ground immediately adjacent to a corn field and came to rest with its tail about 25 feet from the corn field. There was no damage to the 5 foot tall corn and the terrain in the direction of travel was rising. Photographic evidence did not show a ditch between the fields. Examination of the engine airplane and systems failed to reveal any anomalies that would account for the loss of engine power.
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: 1,000 hours in all; 80 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,520 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: JXN Jackson MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 07, 5,350 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 2:15 pm from KOEB, 1 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.