Birdman Enterprises CHINOOK accident near Mecosta, Michigan, March 26, 1984
On March 26, 1984 at about 9:05 pm local time, a Birdman Enterprises CHINOOK (ultralight), an amateur-built aircraft,, registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mecosta, Michigan (Mecosta Morton Twn airport). It was a personal flight under ultralight rules (Part 103). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- March 26, 1984 · about 9:05 pm local time
- Place
- Mecosta, Michigan · Mecosta Morton Twn · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Birdman Enterprises CHINOOK, amateur-built
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial 01967
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · ultralight rules (Part 103)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT STALLED DURING A FORCED LANDING AND THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE GROUND. THE PLT STATED THAT ON HIS FIRST TAKEOFF FULL POWER WAS NOT OBTAINED AND A TURN OF 180 DEGREES WAS INITIATED TO RETURN TO THE AIRSTRIP. THE ENGINE FAILED COMPLETELY ON DOWNWIND AND THE PLT STALLED THE VEHICLE. THE PLT STATED THAT HE FAILED TO OPEN THE VENT ON THE FUEL TANK WHICH CREATED A VACUUM IN THE TANK THAT LED TO FUEL STARVATION.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 10 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 24 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 590 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 277 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,850 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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 UNREG 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.