Amateur-built RV-4 accident near Ionia, Michigan, May 9, 1991
On May 9, 1991 at about 5:42 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-4, registered N188BG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ionia, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
REMEDIAL ACTION NOT PERFORMED BY THE PILOT AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ASSURE THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON THE PROPER TANK.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 9, 1991 · about 5:42 pm local time
- Place
- Ionia, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-4
- Registration
- N188BG · registry record · serial 1032
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF A SINGLE ENGINE HOMEBUILT STATED HE WAS AT A CRUISE ALTITUDE OF 3000 FEET MSL WHEN HIS ENGINE QUIT RUNNING. HE STATED HE SWITCHED ON THE FUEL BOOST PUMP BUT SAW ONLY '0' FUEL PRESSURE. HE STATED HE WAS WITHIN 2 MILES OF HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT AND BEGAN AN ATTEMPTED DEAD STICK LANDING GLIDE. AS THE AIRPLANE NEARED THE AIRPORT HE REALIZED HE WOULD NOT CLEAR OBSTACLES IN HIS GLIDEPATH. HE STATED HE DECIDED TO LAND IN A WHEAT FIELD. DURING AN INTERVIEW WITH POLICE A WITNESS STATED HE SAW THE AIRPLANE 'COMING IN NOSE FIRST' AND THAT 'AT THE LAST MINUTE IT PULLED ITS NOSE UP AND HIT BELLY FIRST.' AN ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE LEFT FUEL TANK EMPTY AND THE FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE ON THE LEFT TANK. THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS FOUND FULL.
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: 236 hours in all; 152 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 133 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 11, 1991; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,496 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 08C Jenison MI at 5:10 pm
- Destination: 9D9 Hastings MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from GRR, 20 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.