Amateur-built MAXAIR XP-503 accident near Michigan City, Indiana, June 14, 1987
On June 14, 1987 at about 1:07 am local time, a amateur-built MAXAIR XP-503, registered N171RB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Michigan City, Indiana. 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
- June 14, 1987 · about 1:07 am local time
- Place
- Michigan City, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MAXAIR XP-503 MAXAIR XP-
- Registration
- N171RB · registry record · serial 0171
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT THE CARBURETOR OF THIS AMATEUR BUILT AIRCRAFT BECAME DETACHED AND THE ENGINE FAILED. AN EMERGENCY LAND WAS ATTEMPTED, HOWEVER OBSTACLES PREVENTED A LANDING AT PRIMARY LANDING SITE AND AN ALTERNATE WAS SELECTED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS UNABLE TO GLIDE TO THE DESTINATION AND STALLED AT ABOUT 16' TO 20' AGL.
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: 6,067 hours in all; 69 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 5,811 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 69 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, March 14, 1987; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 785 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.