Amateur-built S1C accident near Freeland, Michigan, May 6, 1992
On May 6, 1992 at about 5:45 pm local time, a amateur-built S1C, registered N71309, was substantially damaged in an accident near Freeland, Michigan (Tri Cities Int'L airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A TOTAL FAILURE OF THE RUDDER CONTROL CABLE AND UNAVAILABILITY OF RUDDER TO CONTROL THE AIRPLANE DURING ITS LANDING PROCESS. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND REMEDIAL ACTION NOT BEING POSSIBLE ON BEHALF OF THE PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 6, 1992 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Freeland, Michigan · Tri Cities Int'L · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built S1C
- Registration
- N71309 · no longer on the register · serial RJ101
- 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 TAIL WHEEL CONFIGURED AEROBATIC AIRPLANE HAD TOUCHED DOWN ON LANDING AND DISCOVERED THE AIRPLANE DID NOT HAVE RIGHT RUDDER PEDAL CONTROL. THE PILOT STATED HE TOOK OFF TO TROUBLE SHOOT THE PROBLEM. DURING THE INFLIGHT INVESTIGATION HE DISCOVERED THE RIGHT RUDDER CABLE HAD SEPARATED WHERE THE CABLE RUNS THROUGH THE COCKPIT NEAR THE RIGHT SIDEWALL. THE PILOT MADE A CABLE REPAIR SO IT WOULD ALLOW BRAKE SYSTEM OPERATION. DURING THE SUBSEQUENT LANDING THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT AS DIRECTIONALLY CONTROLLABLE AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. AS THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO DECELERATE IT BEGAN AN UNCONTROLLABLE SWERVE WHICH RESULTED IN A LANDING GEAR COLLAPSE.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,844 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 1,780 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1991; 12 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3CM Bay City MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 8,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from MBS, 1 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.