# Accident 19960803020589A: Cessna 404CESSNA, Benton Harbor, MI, August 3, 1996 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: August 3, 1996, 08:30 local time - Place: Benton Harbor, MI - Airport: Ross Field-Twin Cities - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Go Round (Aborted VFR) - Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135) - Operator: EATA - Location: 42.1092° N, 86.4403° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1092&lon=-86.4403&mi=10 - Aircraft: N8919G, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8919G-2012-11-15) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Cessna 404 (registry code 2075901, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Continental GTSI0-520-F-K (registry code 17031, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-gtsi0-520-f-k) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 404CESSNA - Reported engine: CONT GTSIO520M - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 3,250 total, 53 in this make and model, 53 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI96LA266](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA266) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960803020589A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. LANDED HALFWAY DOWN RUNWAY. TRIED GO AROUND.SETTLED INTO SWAMP. WEATHER BELOW MINIMUMS.OVERGROSS DEPARTURE EN ROUTE (-23) ON AUGUST 3, 1996, AT 0830 EDT, A CESSNA 404, N8919G, REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY SUPERIOR AVIATION, INC., FORD AIRPORT, IRON MOUNTAIN, MI 49801, WITH LYLE R. BRADFORD ACTING AS PILOT-IN-COMMAND ON A FAR 135 CARGO CARRYING FLIGHT, ATTEMPTED LANDING ON RUNWAY 36 AT THE SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN REGIONAL AIRPORT (BEH), BENTON HARBOR, MICHIGAN. AFTER TOUCHING DOWN OVER HALF WAY DOWN THE 2500 FOOT RUNWAY THE AIRCRAFT WENT OFF THE DEPARTURE END JUST BARELY AIRBORNE. APPROXIMATELY 87 FEET BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF R36 THE AIRCRAFT CLIPPED THE TOP OF SOME SMALL TREES GROWING OUT OF THE FACE OF AN ABRUPT DROP OFF OF THE TERRAIN. THE TREES WOULD INDICATE THAT THE LEFT WINGTIP WAS SLIGHTLY OVER 3 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND WHILE THE RIGHT WINGTIP WAS APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. THE AIRCRAFT THEN SETTLED DOWN INTO A MARSHY AREA OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY WITH THE LEFT WING CONTACTING THE GROUND FIRST CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO TURN 180 DEGREES, COMING TO REST HEADING SOUTH. THE MARSHY AREA WAS APPROXIMATELY 40 FEET BELOW THE RUNWAY ELEVA TION. MR. BRADFORD, THE ONLY OCCUPANT, WAS LANDING TO UNLOAD UPS FREIGHT THAT HE HAD ON BOARD. IFR METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED ON THE SURFACE WITH A THIN LAYER OF FOG. VISIBILITY, AS DETERMINED BY THE ASOS FACILITY LOCATED ON THE AIRPORT, WAS MEASURED AS 1/4 MILE VISIBILITY AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRCRAFT SUFFERED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHILE COMING TO REST IN THE MARSH. THE PILOT SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN AUGUST 3, 1996, AT APPROXIMATELY 0810 EDT. THE FLIGHT WAS VECTORED OVER THE AIRPORT AND THE PILOT REPORTED SEEING THE NUMBERS ON THE APPROACH END OF R36. HE THEN CANCELED IFR AND PROCEEDED TO CONDUCT THE VFR APPROACH TO R36. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB CHI96LA266](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA266), Aug 3, 1996: Cessna 404 (N8919G), Benton Harbor, MI, destroyed. Probable cause: the pilot's delay in initiating a go-around after not attaining the proper touchdown point during the landing, and his failure to remain clear of obstructions (trees) during the go-around. Factors… ## Other reports on N8919G (2) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 19931217049169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931217049169A), Dec 17, 1993: Cessna 404CESSNA (N8919G), Big Rapids, MI, Substantial damage. VOR turned on for pilots approach. Hurried approach fearing it would be turned off. Busted mda. Hit trees landing. - [Incident 19781010029999I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781010029999I), Oct 10, 1978: Cessna 404CESSNA (N8919G), Charleston, WV. Tire went flat during taxi for takeoff tire had worn unevenly. From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.