Avions Max Holste MH 1521 accident near Big Rapids, Michigan, May 14, 1989
On May 14, 1989 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Avions Max Holste MH 1521, registered N163MH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Big Rapids, Michigan (Roben-Hood airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS BY THE PILOT AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE THE VARIABLE/GUSTY/CROSSWIND CONDITION WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 14, 1989 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Big Rapids, Michigan · Roben-Hood · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Avions Max Holste MH 1521 · all MH 1521s on the register
- Registration
- N163MH · no longer on the register · serial 163MH
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE LANDING ROLL-OUT, THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A GUST OF WIND THAT BLEW THE TAIL TO THE LEFT. HE TRIED TO CORRECT THE SITUATION BY APPLYING LEFT BRAKE, BUT THE AIRCRAFT GROUND LOOPED AND THE LEFT MAIN GEAR & LEFT WING WERE DAMAGED. THE PILOT REPORTED THE WIND DIRECTION WAS 'UNSTEADY.' ABOUT 90 MILES SOUTHWEST AT MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN, THE 1250 EDT WIND WAS FROM 270 DEG AT 8 KTS.
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: 497 hours in all; 39 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,089 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 4, 1988; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,952 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6MI3 Zeeland MI at 4:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,600 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from MKG, 90 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.