Amateur-built CHALLENGER II accident near Bellaire, Michigan, July 28, 1997
On July 28, 1997 at about 7:00 pm local time, a amateur-built CHALLENGER II, registered N44LS, was destroyed in an accident near Bellaire, Michigan (Antrim County 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
failure of the pilot to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff. The gusty wind condition was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 28, 1997 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Bellaire, Michigan · Antrim County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CHALLENGER II CHALLENGER
- Registration
- N44LS · registry record · serial CH21190CW058
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Challenger II, N44LS, was the last of seven airplanes to depart from a taxiway that was oriented toward west-northwest. The pilots of all previous airplanes departed with a right turn out to the north. Wind conditions at the time were observed to be gusty, with several airplanes having difficulties taking off. After liftoff, the airplane was observed turning towards the left while increasing its angle of bank. The airplane went into a steep left bank followed by a high descent rate that continued until the airplane collided with the terrain. About 5 minutes before the accident, the wind was reported to be from 340 degrees at 7 gusting 15 knots. On-scene investigation revealed no pre-impact mechanical anomaly with the engine or the flight controls.
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: 600 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 680 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 580 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ACB at 8:00 pm
- Destination: OSH Oshkosh WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 7 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from ACB
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.