Amateur-built 300 accident near Vriesland, Michigan, June 14, 1990
On June 14, 1990 at about 4:30 pm local time, a amateur-built 300, registered N359VE, was destroyed in an accident near Vriesland, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S MISJUDGMENT OF THE ALTITUDE. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LOW CEILING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 14, 1990 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Vriesland, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 300
- Registration
- N359VE · no longer on the register · serial 1
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING FOR AN UPCOMING AIRSHOW WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S WIFE, HE WAS PRACTICING AT ALTITUDES WHICH WERE LOWER THAN NORMAL DUE TO THE LOW CLOUD LAYER. HE WAS SEEN TO ENTER AND EXIT THE CLOUDS SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT'S WIFE STATED THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING A HALF CUBAN 8 WITH ROLLS DURING THE DESCENT. AT THE END OF THE MANEUVER SHE SAW THE WINGS ROLL LEVEL AND THE AIRPLANE PITCHED UP THEN STARTED ANOTHER ROLL WHEN THE WING TIP CONTACTED THE GROUND.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,095 hours in all; 130 in this make and model; 995 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-J4A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from MKG, 10 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.