Amateur-built CHRISTEN II accident near Howell, Michigan, June 19, 1998
On June 19, 1998 at about 8:05 pm local time, a amateur-built CHRISTEN II, registered N124ET, was destroyed in an accident near Howell, Michigan. 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 not maintaining aircraft control during the go-around maneuver. A factor in this accident was the pilot s lack of recent experience in the accident airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 1998 · about 8:05 pm local time
- Place
- Howell, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CHRISTEN II CHRISTEN I
- Registration
- N124ET · no longer on the register · serial T0001
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The homebuilt airplane was observed doing a go-around from a landing approach. Shortly after initiaited the go-around, the airplane was observed in a steep left bank that continued until the airplane descended and collided with the ground. The airplane was consumed by a post-impact fire. The on-scene investigation revealed no anomalies with the airframe, flight control system or engine that would prevent flight. The pilot s last logged flight in the airplane was about 2-years and 11- months before the accident flight.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,412 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 6,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 48 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, June 19, 1998
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: OZW
- Destination: OZW
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Wind: from 220° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 pm from OZW, 1 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.