Amateur-built CASSUTT accident near Winn, Michigan, July 22, 1992
On July 22, 1992 at about 9:00 pm local time, a amateur-built CASSUTT, registered N881, was substantially damaged in an accident near Winn, 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
THE DITCH THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED DURING THE LANDING ROLL PHASE OF A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 1992 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Winn, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CASSUTT
- Registration
- N881 · registry record · serial CWH 101
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A FLIGHT IN PREPARATION FOR AN AIR RACE THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE CEASED OPERATION DURING CRUISE. THE PILOT PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING IN A BEAN FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLLOUT THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A DITCH THE PILOT HAD NOT OBSERVED PRIOR TO THE LANDING. THE POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ENGINE WAS MODIFIED AND WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A STARTER, FUEL BOOST PUMP, OR ENGINE PRIMER. THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL TANK CONTAINED APPROXIMATELY THREE GALLONS OF AUTO FUEL. THE IGNITION SPARK LEADS HAD WATER CONTAMINATION ON THEM AT THE MAGNETO ATTACH POINT. CORROSION WAS OBSERVED ON THE MAGNETO HARNESS BLOCK AND DISTRIBUTOR BLOCK SPRING. THE SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES WERE AUTOMOTIVE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,000 hours in all; 10 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 60 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 30, 1992; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 875 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M153 at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from HTL, 53 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.