Amateur-built FALCON-XP accident near Zeeland, Michigan, August 22, 1993
On August 22, 1993 at about 4:30 pm local time, a amateur-built FALCON-XP, registered N534AA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Zeeland, Michigan (Private airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
an inadequate maintenance inspection by the pilot/owner and the separation of the wing skin.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 22, 1993 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Zeeland, Michigan · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built FALCON-XP
- Registration
- N534AA · registry record · serial 600157
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE WAS UNDERGOING MAINTENANCE FLIGHT TESTS AFTER 2 1/2 YEARS OF STORAGE. DURING INITIAL CLIMBOUT FROM TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT AND LEFT HAND BANK. THE LEFT WING, FOLLOWED BY THE NOSE, COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. A WITNESS REPORTED OBSERVING A PORTION OF THE LEFT WING'S MYLAR COVERING STANDING UP ON THE WING DURING THE FLIGHT. AN ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE TAPE HOLDING THE MYLAR WING COVERING DOWN HAD PEELED OFF THE LEFT WING'S LEADING EDGE.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 248 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 130 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 15, 1987; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 1,250 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from GRR, 21 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI93DEM02.