Ryan NAVION accident near Sturgis, Michigan, May 19, 1995
On May 19, 1995 at about 6:55 pm local time, a Ryan NAVION, registered N4568K, was destroyed in an accident near Sturgis, Michigan (Kirsch Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during the attempted landing and go-around. A factor was the crosswind weather condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 19, 1995 · about 6:55 pm local time
- Place
- Sturgis, Michigan · Kirsch Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ryan NAVION · all NAVIONs on the register
- Registration
- N4568K · no longer on the register · serial NAV-4-1568
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESS REPORTED THAT DURING THE PILOT'S SIXTH LANDING ATTEMPT, THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED TO APPROXIMATELY SIX FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND WAS BLOWN EAST OF THE RUNWAY. THE NOISE OF THE ENGINE INCREASED TO 'WHAT SOUNDED LIKE FULL POWER.' THE PITCH OF THE AIRPLANE INCREASED AND IT ROLLED TO THE RIGHT, CARTWHEELING AS IT IMPACTED TERRAIN. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF FLIGHT CONTROL OR ENGINE MALFUNCTION. THE LANDING GEAR, FLAPS, AND RESPECTIVE CONTROLS WERE IN THE FULL DOWN POSITIONS.
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
- Flight time: 190 hours in all; 85 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 15, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 3,233 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 5,699 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:45 pm from EKM, 30 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.