Amateur-built POLLIWAGON accident near Lambertville, Michigan, June 14, 1985
On June 14, 1985 at about 9:45 pm local time, a amateur-built POLLIWAGON, registered N8FT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lambertville, Michigan (Toledo Suburban airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- June 14, 1985 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Lambertville, Michigan · Toledo Suburban
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built POLLIWAGON
- Registration
- N8FT · no longer on the register · serial 458
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO FLARE THE ACFT WITH FULL UP ELEVATOR AND THE NOSE GEAR CONTACTED THE RWY DURING LANDING. THE ACFT BOUNCED AND CONTACTED THE RWY AGAIN RESULTING IN A GEAR COLLAPSE. THE PLT STATED THAT THE ELEVATOR DID NOT PROVIDE THE SAME AMOUNT OF UP TRAVEL AS DESIGNED. IN ADDITION, THE NOSE GEAR EXTENSION WAS LONGER THAN DESIGNED.
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: 963 hours in all; 1 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 14, 1985; 1 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Revmaster UNK (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,258 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from TOL, 12 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.