Amateur-built TIGER MOTH DH-82A accident near Interlochen, Michigan, August 2, 1994
On August 2, 1994 at about 10:00 pm local time, a amateur-built TIGER MOTH DH-82A, registered N38KH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Interlochen, Michigan (Green Lake Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of the pilot to obtain the proper climb rate, and inadequate compensation for wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 1994 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Interlochen, Michigan · Green Lake Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built TIGER MOTH DH-82A TIGER MOTH
- Registration
- N38KH · registry record
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 34. THE RUNWAY IS SURROUNDED ON ALL SIDES BY 50 FOOT TREES. HE STATED THAT RIGHT AFTER TAKEOFF, THE WIND SHIFTED 180 DEGREES AND THE AIRPLANE LOST AIRSPEED. HE TRIED TO LAND BACK ON THE RUNWAY BEFORE THE AIRPLANE HIT THE TREES AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE HIT HARD, BROKE THE LANDING GEAR, AND NOSED OVER. THE WIND AT THE NEAREST REPORTING STATION, 13 MILES NORTHEAST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE, WAS 050 AT 8 KNOTS.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,825 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Avro GYPSY MAJOR (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 2,100 ft by 200 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:45 pm from TVC, 13 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.