Amateur-built S-1C accident near Overisel, Michigan, October 6, 1984
On October 6, 1984 at about 7:21 pm local time, a amateur-built S-1C, registered N561CK, was destroyed in an accident near Overisel, Michigan. 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 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
- October 6, 1984 · about 7:21 pm local time
- Place
- Overisel, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built S-1C
- Registration
- N561CK · registry record · serial 2CK
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
MISHAP ACFT, IN COMPANY WITH ANOTHER ACFT OF SAME MAKE/MODEL, MADE PREPLANNED PASSES OVER LOCALE OF RESIDENCE PRIOR TO DEPARTURE FOR SHORT CROSS-COUNTRY. AFTER SEVERAL CIRCLES AT 500 FT AGL, MISHAP PLT BROKE OUT OF LOOSE FORMATION INTO SHALLOW DIVE; OTHER PLT OBSERVED MISHAP ACFT PASS 150-200 FT BELOW HIM THEN VISUAL CONTACT WAS LOST UNTIL JUST BEFORE THE CRASH. GROUND WITNESSES OBSERVED MISHAP ACFT EXECUTE A HALF-ROLL TO AN INVERTED ATTITUDE THEN ENTER A DIVE INTO THE GROUND.
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: 2,800 hours in all; 65 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 2,700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 5, 1984; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-G (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: HLM Holland MI at 7:10 pm
- Destination: 3GM Grand Haven MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°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.
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.