Stephen T-BIRD TBT06 N655DM

Summary

On 17 August 2004 at about 22:30 local time, a Stephen T-BIRD TBT06 registered N655DM was involved in an accident near Gobles, Michigan, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 August 2004 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Gobles, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Private

Coordinates

42.3606, -85.8703

Aircraft

Stephen T-BIRD TBT06

Registration

N655DM

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Gobles → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

NTSB number

CHI04LA231

2 people were seriously injured.

The pilot's inadvertent flight into adverse weather conditions which resulted in an encounter with a downdraft that exceeded the climb capabilities of the airplane. The downdraft and the trees were factors.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was unable to climb under full power and descended into trees. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical difficulties with the airplane. He stated that the winds at the accident location were about 4 knots, and that there were black clouds associated with a thunderstorm to the north of his location.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.