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's preliminary report on the August 13 MiG-23UM crash at the Thunder Over Michigan airshow indicates an engine afterburner failure and decreasing airspeed during the flight.
Both pilots ejected at low altitude, sustaining minor injuries, after the rear seat observer initiated the ejection, while the pilot was still attempting to troubleshoot the engine issue.
The jet crashed near an apartment complex, damaging vehicles and resulting in a post-impact explosion and fire, with the NTSB's full investigation still underway.

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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.