Golden Circle Air T-Bird accident near Grosse Ile, MI
On July 11, 2020, a Golden Circle Air T-Bird (airplane) was involved in an accident near Grosse Ile, MI. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- July 11, 2020
- Place
- Grosse Ile, MI
- Aircraft
- Golden Circle Air T-Bird · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 42.111°N, 83.172°W
- NTSB ID
- 20200711X82324
Official records · CEN20LA272
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn July 11, 2020, about 1647 eastern daylight time, a Golden Circle Air T-Bird Tandem TBT-06 airplane, N50JH, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Grosse Ile, Michigan. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. A witness, a helicopter pilot who was preparing to take off from the Gross Ile Municipal Airport (ONZ), reported that about 1600, he observed the airplane, which he described as an amphibious ultralight, taxi out from between the hangars at ONZ and begin its takeoff roll to the south on taxiway C. The airplane pilot did not make a radio call announcing his departure. The helicopter pilot aborted his takeoff and, as he hovered, continued to watch the airplane. According to the helicopter pilot, the airport was reporting wind from the northwest at greater than 20 knots. The helicopter pilot stated that due to the strong quartering tailwind, when the airplane lifted off the ground, it immediately yawed about 30° to the right and drifted to the right of the taxiway centerline, striking a taxiway marker light on the west (right) side of taxiway C near the intersection with taxiway E. The airplane continued its departure on a heading of about 210°, and the helicopter pilot took off and lost sight of the airplane. The witness expressed the opinion that the pilot was flying "dangerously" and that the wind conditions were too strong and variable for a safe flight in the airplane. At 1637, another witness was in a parking lot about 2 miles north of t
Probable cause
The noncertificated pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees while maneuvering at low altitude in gusting wind conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of flight experience.
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Browse: Michigan
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
