Amateur-built SEAREY accident near Morenci, Michigan, June 26, 1999
On June 26, 1999 at about 11:55 pm local time, a amateur-built SEAREY, registered N827P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Morenci, Michigan (Private Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight 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
the pilots inadequate preflight planning and his failure to maintain airspeed. Factors to the accident were the high trees at the departure end of the runway, and the stall encountered.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 1999 · about 11:55 pm local time
- Place
- Morenci, Michigan · Private Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SEAREY
- Registration
- N827P · registry record · serial 1 DK074
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had just taken off from his private airstrip and did not believe that he could clear the trees at the end of the runway. The pilot decided to make a landing in an adjacent field that would require a turn of approximately 150 degrees. The pilot stated that the steep turn required resulted in a stall and subsequent nose down impact with the ground. The runway surface consisted of dry sod six inches high, which the pilot stated as a reason that the airplane did not reach rotation speed as soon as normal. The runway is approximately 965 feet long and 75 feet wide with high trees approximately 350 feet from the departure end of the runway. There is a slight uphill grade to the runway.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,838 hours in all; 79 in this make and model; 79 in the last 90 days; 46 in the last 30 days; 1,838 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 47 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,368 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Rotax 912S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 965 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from ADG, 13 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.