N95890

On July 9, 2003, at 1950 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182Q, N95890, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power while on initial climb from Empire Airport (Y87), Empire, Michigan. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was destined for Lake Ann, Michigan (4M0).

According to the pilot's written account of the accident, prior to the takeoff he had taxied the airplane to the end of runway 35 (2,600 feet by 50 feet, dry asphalt) to complete an engine run-up check. The pilot stated that no anomalies were noticed during the engine run-up and that he subsequently set the wing flaps to 10-degrees prior to departing. The pilot reported that the engine rpm was accelerated and the manifold pressure was set to 27 inches-of-mercury. The pilot stated the airplane "wasn't getting lift" during the takeoff roll, so he increased engine power to the maximum. The pilot reported after the airplane became airborne the stall warning horn sounded and he responded by lowering the airplane's nose, just clearing a pine tree in the process. The pilot stated he attempted to climb, but the stall warning horn sounded again and the airplane subsequently impacted a cherry-tree orchard near the departure end of the runway. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented if he "aborted takeoff instead of adding power."

The pilot provided a copy of the takeoff checklist for the accident airplane. The checklist states that a normal takeoff is to be completed with full engine power and 20-degrees of wing flaps.

Wind data was obtained from the Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) located at the Cherry Capital Airport (TVC), Traverse City, Michigan. The 1853 ASOS observation stated the winds were from 105-degrees magnetic at nine knots. TVC is located approximately 18 nm to the east of Y87. The calculated wind angles for the departure runway resulted in a four-knot tailwind and an eight-knot crosswind.