Amateur-built FOX III SPEEDSTER accident near Watervliet, Michigan, June 12, 1994
On June 12, 1994 at about 2:25 pm local time, a amateur-built FOX III SPEEDSTER, registered N61AB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Watervliet, Michigan (Watervliet Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 12, 1994 · about 2:25 pm local time
- Place
- Watervliet, Michigan · Watervliet Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built FOX III SPEEDSTER FOX III SP
- Registration
- N61AB · registry record · serial HBS-041
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE WAS OVER THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY WHEN THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED, AND THE AIRPORT IS SURROUNDED BY TALL TREES AND ROUGH TERRAIN. THE PILOT TURNED BACK TOWARDS THE AIRPORT AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING IN A CLEARING IN THE TREES. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE TREETOPS, AND CRASHED TO THE GROUND. THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED AT AN AUTHORIZED REPAIR STATION. THE ENGINE RAN WITHOUT MALFUNCTION ON THE TEST STAND. THE TEMPERATURE/DEW POINT COMBINATION WAS 73/62. THIS IS IN THE AREA KNOWN TO BE FAVORABLE FOR CARBURETOR ICING. THE CARBURETOR HEAT WAS FOUND IN THE 'OFF' POSITION DURING THE INITIAL EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 414 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 344 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 65 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, June 3, 1994; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912UL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: C91 Dowagiac MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 2,600 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from SBN, 29 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.