Reichert MJ-77 N51MJ

Summary

On 10 September 1999 at about 23:32 local time, a Reichert MJ-77 registered N51MJ was involved in an accident near Owosso, Michigan, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 September 1999 at 23:32

Classification

Accident

Location

Owosso, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Owosso Community Airport (5D3)

Coordinates

42.9897, -84.1696

Aircraft

Reichert MJ-77

Registration

N51MJ

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Grand Ledge

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

CHI99LA337

1 person died.

the pilot's improper preflight which resulted in a takeoff with the oil cap not secured and the subsequent loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.