Amateur-built BARRACUDA accident near Ypsilanti, Michigan, October 17, 1988
On October 17, 1988, a amateur-built BARRACUDA, registered N48DS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ypsilanti, Michigan (Willow Run airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING LANDING AND INABILITY TO APPROPRIATELY CORRECT FOR THE PORPOISE ACTION OF THE AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 17, 1988
- Place
- Ypsilanti, Michigan · Willow Run · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BARRACUDA
- Registration
- N48DS · registry record · serial 216
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ENROUTE TO LANSING, MICHIGAN (LAN) THE PILOT OF THIS AMATEUR BUILT BARRACUDA WAS FORCED TO DEVIATE TO YPSILANTI'S WILLOW RUN AIRPORT (YIP), DUE TO THUNDERSTORMS ON THE FLIGHT PATH. ON LANDING, HE EXPERIENCED A HARD TOUCHDOWN AND THE ACFT BEGAN TO PORPOISE. WHILE ATTEMPTING A GO-AROUND, THE ACFT HIT HARD AGAIN, DRIVING THE MAIN GEAR THROUGH THE WINGS.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all; 850 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 850 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 19, 1987; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IND Indianapolis IN at 12:15 pm
- Destination: YIP Ypsilanti MI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 23, 7,526 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 230° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.