Amateur-built CHALLENGER II accident near Escanaba, Michigan, November 28, 1993
On November 28, 1993 at about 5:30 pm local time, a amateur-built CHALLENGER II, registered N4285V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Escanaba, Michigan (Delta County Airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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
INADEQUATE DIRECTIONAL STABILITY OF THE AIRCRAFT (DUE TO INSTALLATION OF LEXAN COCKPIT ENCLOSURE DOORS), WHICH PRECIPITATED A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 28, 1993 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Escanaba, Michigan · Delta County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CHALLENGER II CHALLENGER
- Registration
- N4285V · no longer on the register · serial CH2 099-0561
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight was the first flight for this pilot with a door modification installed. The pilot reports being unable to fly the aircraft in other than a left bank resulting in a circling climb then circling descent to a forced landing on the airport. No control malfunction was found. The President of the aircraft distribution company stated that the plane could be flown with the doors on but the pilot had to stay ahead of the aircraft and additional flight training would be suggested.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,700 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 169 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 47 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 875 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Hirth 203 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 6,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from ESC
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.