Amateur-built SKYSCOUT accident near Eaton Rapids, Michigan, August 21, 1993
On August 21, 1993 at about 8:20 pm local time, a amateur-built SKYSCOUT, registered N4301D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eaton Rapids, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in an inadvertant stall. Factors related to the accident were the low altitude and the restricted movement of the carburetor needle.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 21, 1993 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Eaton Rapids, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SKYSCOUT
- Registration
- N4301D · registry record · serial 01
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING INITIAL CLIMBOUT FROM TAKEOFF, THE HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE'S ENGINE SURGED ONCE ACCORDING TO THE PILOT STATEMENT. UPON CLEARING TREES LOCATED ALONG THE DEPARTURE PATH, THE PILOT STATED HE TURNED THE AIRPLANE TO THE RIGHT AT AN ALTITUDE OF 30 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. DURING THE TURN THE PILOT STATED THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THE CARBURETOR NEEDLE AND SEAT WERE BURRED. THE NEEDLE WOULD STICK IN THE CLOSED POSITION WHEN SEATED.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 23,200 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 14,300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 91 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 12, 1993; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 850 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W4A AUTOSATAR (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:47 pm from JXN, 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.