Amateur-built S-1D accident near Mt Pleasant, Michigan, August 27, 1989
On August 27, 1989 at about 10:45 pm local time, a amateur-built S-1D, registered N787PA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mt Pleasant, Michigan (Mt Pleasant Muni airport). 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 TAIL WHEEL SPRING BECOMING DISCONNECTED RESULTING IN THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 27, 1989 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Mt Pleasant, Michigan · Mt Pleasant Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built S-1D
- Registration
- N787PA · registry record · serial 724H
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A SEVERE TAIL WHEEL SHIMMY WAS EXPERIENCED DURING THE LANDING ROLL. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST AND THE AIRPLANE TRAVELED OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY WHERE IT CONTACTED A DITCH. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, THE LEFT SIDE TAIL WHEEL SPRING WAS FOUND ON THE RUNWAY. THE RIGHT SIDE SPRING REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE RUDDER, BUT WAS DISCONNECTED AT THE TAIL WHEEL STEERING HORN.
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: 419 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 390 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 116 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 28, 1988; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,125 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MOP at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from GRR, 58 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.