Amateur-built Questair Q20 accident near Big Rapids, Michigan, August 23, 2006
On August 23, 2006 at about 6:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Questair Q20, registered N2QV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Big Rapids, Michigan (Roben-Hood airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to ensure an adequate fuel supply, which resulted in the exhaustion of the fuel supply and the subsequent loss of engine power. The trees that the airplane struck during the forced landing were a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 23, 2006 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Big Rapids, Michigan · Roben-Hood · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Questair Q20
- Registration
- N2QV · no longer on the register · serial 25
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane impacted trees and the ground during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during cruise flight. The flight was operating on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The pilot reported the loss of engine power to air traffic control and was attempting to divert when the accident occurred. Examination of the airplane following the accident revealed no mechanical anomalies. No fuel or evidence of a fuel spill was found at the accident site.
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: 3,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550-G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FDW Winnsboro SC at 3:29 pm
- Destination: FKS Frankfort MI
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,900 ft; scat at 1,400 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 6:38 pm from RQB, 3 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.