An amateur-built aircraft accident near Plymouth, Michigan, August 16, 1982
On August 16, 1982 at about 11:10 pm local time, a an amateur-built aircraft, registered N641D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Plymouth, Michigan (Mettetal 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 16, 1982 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Plymouth, Michigan · Mettetal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- An amateur-built aircraft
- Registration
- N641D · no longer on the register · serial 005
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
TEST FLIGHT IN NEW EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT. DURING THE FIRST LANDING THE AIRCRAFT BALLOONED, STALLED AND IMPACTED LEFT WING FIRST.
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: 80 hours in all; 36 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,075 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagon 1835 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ID2 Plymouth MI at 6:35 pm
- Destination: ID2 Plymouth MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,100 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.