Aviation Investigation Preliminary Report
Location: Belleville, MI Accident Number: CEN23FA361
Date & Time: August 13, 2023, 15:15 Local Registration: N23UB
Aircraft: Mikoyan Gurevich MIG-23UB Injuries: 2 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Air race/show
On August 13, about 1515 eastern daylight time, a Mikoyan Gurevich Mig 23UB, N23UB, was
destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Belleville, Michigan. The pilot and pilot
rated observer received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal
Regulations Part 91 airshow exhibition flight.
The flight was performing at the “Thunder over Michigan Airshow” held at the Willow Run
Airport (YIP), Ypsilanti, Michigan. The accident flight was scheduled to be the second to last
act.
The accident airplane was a privately owned Russian designed military fighter airplane that
employed variable geometry wings that allowed the wing sweep angle to be changed in-flight.
The airplane was powered by a single turbojet engine with afterburner capability.
The pilot reported that the flight departed from runway 23 at YIP, followed by a right turn to a
“banana pass” (a low-level knife edge pass) along runway 23. Following the pass, he started
banking the airplane and noticed that the engine afterburner did not ignite, and the airspeed
began to decrease. He brought the swing wings into the fully forward position (16° sweep) to
increase lift and began troubleshooting the problem. He was actively troubleshooting when the
rear seat observer stated that they needed to eject. The pilot reported that he was not ready to
eject and was still troubleshooting the problem and maneuvering the airplane toward runway
27 at YIP when his ejection seat fired, and he was out of the airplane. He stated that if either
occupant pulls the ejection handle, both seats eject.
The rear seat observer stated that the airplane made a pass along the runway and the plan was
to go to the left for another pass followed by a landing. He stated that the engine was not
accelerating. He and the pilot had a brief discussion and began to climb up and gain altitude.
They determined that they had some type of engine problem and needed to get back on the
ground. He stated that they determined they did not have sufficient altitude to make it to a
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This information is preliminary and subject to change.
runway at the airport. He said they were compressed for time and needed to get out. When
asked if he had pulled the ejection seat handles, he stated that he could not specifically
remember but thinks that he would have pulled them.
Video evidence indicated that the airplane was in a left bank when the ejection seats fired. The
airplane continued in the left bank and descended into the ground about 1 mile south of the
approach end of runway 27 at YIP. The wreckage path was about 600 ft. long on a heading of
about 35°. There was a postimpact explosion and fire. The fuselage section that contained the
tail surfaces and engine came to rest adjacent to an apartment building. The remainder of the
airplane was fragmented and distributed along the wreckage path. There were no reported
injuries on the ground.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Mikoyan Gurevich Registration: N23UB
Model/Series: MIG-23UB Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built:
Operator: On file Operating Certificate(s) None
Held:
Operator Designator Code:
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: VMC Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KYIP,716 ft msl Observation Time: 02:53 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles Temperature/Dew Point: 17°C /15°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 3 knots / None, 280°
Lowest Ceiling: None Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.91 inches Hg Type of Flight Plan Filed: NONE
Departure Point: Belleville, MI (YIP) Destination: Belleville, MI (YIP)
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Minor Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: 1 Minor Aircraft Fire: On-ground
Ground Injuries: Aircraft Explosion: On-ground
Total Injuries: 2 Minor Latitude, Longitude: 42.218353,-83.510833
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This information is preliminary and subject to change.
Administrative Information
Investigator In Charge (IIC): Brannen, John
Additional Participating Persons: Rick Anderson; FAA - East Michigan FSDO; Belleville, MI
Investigation Class: Class 3
Note:
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This information is preliminary and subject to change.
