Stratton CHALLENGER II N44LS

Summary

On 28 July 1997 at about 19:00 local time, a Stratton CHALLENGER II registered N44LS was involved in an accident near Bellaire, Michigan, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 July 1997 at 19:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Bellaire, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Antrim County (ACB)

Coordinates

44.9706, -85.2005

Aircraft

Stratton CHALLENGER II

Registration

N44LS

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Oshkosh

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI97LA231

1 person died.

failure of the pilot to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff. The gusty wind condition was a related factor.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.