S C Aerostar S .A. FESTIVAL R40S accident near Frankfort, Michigan, July 30, 2016
On July 30, 2016 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 2005 S C Aerostar S .A. FESTIVAL R40S, registered N291AF, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Frankfort, Michigan (Frankfort Dow Memorial Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in gusty crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion, a nose gear collapse, and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 30, 2016 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Frankfort, Michigan · Frankfort Dow Memorial Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- S C Aerostar S .A. FESTIVAL R40S NO SERIES, built 2005
- Registration
- N291AF · registry record · serial 050305
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot reported that during the landing roll in gusty right crosswind conditions the right wing lifted and the airplane drifted off the runway to the left. The airplane impacted terrain, which resulted in a collapsed nose gear and substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport, revealed that, about 7 minutes before the accident the wind was 050 degrees true at 5 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, and sky clear. The airplane landed on runway 15.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 38.4 hours in all; 38.4 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 2.9 in the last 30 days; 3.4 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 421 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, June 2, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 1,896 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912-ULS (piston); 421 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ACB Bellaire MI at 5:00 pm
- Destination: FKS Frankfort MI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 15, 4,050 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KFKS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.