Amateur-built LONG-EZ accident near Rochester Hills, Michigan, April 23, 1989
On April 23, 1989 at about 7:30 pm local time, a amateur-built LONG-EZ, registered N642JB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rochester Hills, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S DECISION TO TAKEOFF FROM UNSUITABLE TERRAIN WHICH RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE PROPELLER AND NOSE GEAR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 23, 1989 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Rochester Hills, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LONG-EZ
- Registration
- N642JB · registry record · serial LE-6996
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT THE NOSE GEAR STRUCK SOMETHING ON THE RUNWAY DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. THERE WERE CHUNKS OF GRAVEL AND ASPHALT ON THE FIRST 800 FT OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RETRACT THE NOSE GEAR BUT COULD NOT GET A FULL RETRACTION SO HE ELECTED TO FLY WITH IT PARTIALLY EXTENDED. A POWER REDUCTION WAS MADE TO 2000 RPM AT WHICH TIME THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY VIBRATE. THE PILOT EXTENDED THE NOSE GEAR AND SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN IN PREPARATION FOR LANDING. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED DURING THE LANDING. WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING SOMETHING FALLING FROM THE AIRPLANE DURING FLIGHT. EXAMINATION REVEALED A 20 INCH SECTION OF ONE PROPELLER BLADE WAS MISSING. THE WOODEN PROPELLER HAD A HISTORY OF DAMAGE WITH THE REPAIRS MADE BY THE PILOT.
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: 610 hours in all; 242 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 511 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 283 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, July 22, 1988; 112 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,325 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 57D New Haven MI
- Destination: 7D2 Troy MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:37 pm from PTK, 14 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.
Other NTSB records under N642JB the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.