Amateur-built MJ-77 accident near Owosso, Michigan, September 10, 1999
On September 10, 1999 at about 11:32 pm local time, a amateur-built MJ-77, registered N51MJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Owosso, Michigan (Owosso Community 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 improper preflight which resulted in a takeoff with the oil cap not secured and the subsequent loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 10, 1999 · about 11:32 pm local time
- Place
- Owosso, Michigan · Owosso Community Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MJ-77
- Registration
- N51MJ · registry record · serial JR77794-01
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A witness saw the airplane take off westbound. He stated that he saw black contrails coming from the wings. The airplane returned to the airport in level flight about 100 to 150 feet above the ground. The airplane nosed down and crashed on the north side of the runway. Another witness saw the airplane trailing smoke similar to the smoke oil trails used by airshow performers. The second witness also stated that the airplane had black fluid coming from the trailing edge of the wings. The airplane came to rest inverted approximately 10 feet north of runway 10 and 300 feet east of the approach end of runway 10. An on-scene examination of the airplane wreckage revealed that the engine oil tank filler neck was found without its cap engaged. The pilot's logbook indicated the pilot flew a total of 11.1 hours in the accident airplane.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 839 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 654 as pilot in command; 206 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Ranger SGV-770C-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5D3
- Destination: 4D0 Grand Ledge MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 3,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 220° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 7,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 pm from FNT, 17 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.
Other NTSB records under N51MJ the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.