Navion A accident near Baldwin, Michigan, April 19, 1987
On April 19, 1987 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Navion A, registered N4961C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Baldwin, Michigan (Baldwin Municipal 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
- April 19, 1987 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Baldwin, Michigan · Baldwin Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Navion A
- Registration
- N4961C · no longer on the register · serial NA41161
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER BEGINNING A LEVEL OFF AT APRX 6000 FT, THE ACFT ENGINE STOPPED. DURING THE FORCED LANDING THE ACFT CRASHED IN A HEAVILY WOODED AREA APRX 1/2 MILE WEST OF THE ARPT. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT BOTH WING TANKS WERE EMPTY AND THE AUXILLIARY TANK CONTAINED ONE GALLON OF FUEL. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED FOR THE AUXILLIARY TANK, HOWEVER, THE PLT STATED HE SELECTED THIS TANK IN AN ATTEMPT TO RESTART THE ENGINE.
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: 1,086 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1,116 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,124 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 15, 1987; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-185-9 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7D3 Baldwin MI at 9:50 pm
- Destination: MKG Muskegon MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 011° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from GRR, 60 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.