Swift GC-1A accident near Fraser, Michigan, October 27, 1984
On October 27, 1984 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Swift GC-1A, registered N74A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fraser, Michigan (Mckinley airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were 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
- October 27, 1984 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Fraser, Michigan · Mckinley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Swift GC-1A
- Registration
- N74A · registry record · serial 069
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PLT, HE TOOK OFF ON RWY 18 & WAS CLIMBING THRU ABOUT 250 FT AGL WHEN THE ENG LOST POWER & HE MADE A FORCED LANDING. HOWEVER, A CO-OWNER, WHO WAS ON BOARD, STATED THAT THE PLT HAD RETARDED THE THROTTLE, THEN THE ACFT STOPPED STOPPED CLIMBING, ACTING AS IF THE ENG HAD LOST POWER. HE STATED THAT THE ACFT SEEMED TO SHUDDER & SUDDENLY DROP TOWARD THE GROUND. HE BELIEVED THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO RECOVER THE SPEED, BUT WAS UNSUCCESFUL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A LEVEL, BELLY DOWN ATTITUTDE. LATER, WHEN ASKED WHY THE PLT HAD RETARDED THE THROTTLE AFTER TAKEOFF, HE REPLIED THAT THE ENG WAS EXCEEDING 2575 RPM. THE ACFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A VARIABLE PITCH PROP WHICH IS CONTROLLED BY THE PLT. THE CO-OWNER STATED THAT PROCEDURE TO CONTROL THE ENG RPM WAS FOR THE PLT TO CHANGE THE PROP PITCH ANGLE. THE PLT HAD NO PREVIOUS FLT TIME IN THIS MAKE & MODEL.
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: 230 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 909 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 12, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 1,570 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,800 ft; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:44 pm from DET, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.