NTSB Releases Preliminary Report in Airshow MiG Accident

Pilots who ejected during Thunder Over Michigan performance suggest that the engine lost power.

Monday, August 28, 2023 at 10:27 AM ET

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The MiG-23, seen here taking off in Lakeland, Florida in April 2023, crashed while performing the air show finale. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

The NTSB released a preliminary report on the crash of a privately owned MiG-23UM at the Thunder Over Michigan airshow, where both pilots safely ejected with minor injuries.
The incident occurred due to the aircraft's engine afterburner failing and a subsequent decrease in airspeed during a performance.
While the pilot was troubleshooting the engine problem, the rear seat observer initiated the ejection, believing there was insufficient altitude to make it to a runway, causing both seats to fire.
The aircraft crashed near an apartment complex, damaging several cars, and the NTSB's full investigation and final report are expected to take several months.

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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released the preliminary report on the investigation into the crash of a privately owned MiG-23UM at the Thunder Over Michigan airshow earlier this month.

As previously reported by FLYING, on August 13 both pilots ejected from MiG at low altitude during an airshow performance. The pilots sustained minor injuries in the event and were rescued from Belleville Lake. The jet came down near the Waverly on the Lake Apartments in Belleville, damaging a few cars.