20040209001309A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Cessna 402B · Sturgis, MI · February 9, 2004

Date: February 9, 2004
Place: Sturgis, MI
Phase of flight: Unauth Low Level Opns
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N6387X
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI04LA065
Reported as: Cessna 402B
Reported engine: Continental TSIO520*
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,400 total120 in this make and model120 in the last 90 days

N6387XRegistered now · Cessna 402BS/N 402B1350 · Built 1978 Airframe modelCessna 402B Engine modelContinental TSIO-520 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) On 02/09/04, N6387X, owned and operated by riley aviation, inc. was chartered under FAA part 135 to fly freight from piqua, oh to battle creek, MI (btl). The pilot filed a flight plan with lansing afss for the intended route. After completion of the freight delivery in battle creek, the two pilots exchanged seats and were repositioning the aircraft, flying under FAA part 91, back to kirsch municipal airport (irs) in Sturgis, MI. At approximately 1530 local time and 4 miles northeast of the airport (irs), the pilot in command was flying the aircraft below minimum safe altitude when the aircraft came in contact with the top of an estimated 60-foot pine tree. The impact broke the pilots windshield incapacitating the pilot. The passenger/pilot immediately took control of the aircraft and landed at kirsch minicipal airport in Sturgis, MI without further incident. The obstacle/pine tree was located about a half of a mile north of featherstone road on rommel road.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON 02/09/04, N6387X, OWNED AND OPERATED BY RILEY AVIATION, INC. WAS CHARTERED UNDER FAA PART 135 TO FLY FREIGHT FROM PIQUA, OH TO BATTLE CREEK, MI (BTL). THE PILOT FILED A FLIGHT PLAN WITH LANSING AFSS FOR THE INTENDED ROUTE. AFTER COMPLETION OF THE FREIGHT DELIVERY IN BATTLE CREEK, THE TWO PILOTS EXCHANGED SEATS AND WERE REPOSITIONING THE AIRCRAFT, FLYING UNDER FAA PART 91, BACK TO KIRSCH MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (IRS) IN STURGIS, MI. AT APPROXIMATELY 1530 LOCAL TIME AND 4 MILES NORTHEAST OF THE AIRPORT (IRS), THE PILOT IN COMMAND WAS FLYING THE AIRCRAFT BELOW MINIMUM SAFE ALTITUDE WHEN THE AIRCRAFT CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE TOP OF AN ESTIMATED 60-FOOT PINE TREE. THE IMPACT BROKE THE PILOTS WINDSHIELD INCAPACITATING THE PILOT. THE PASSENGER/PILOT IMMEDIATELY TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND LANDED AT KIRSCH MINICIPAL AIRPORT IN STURGIS, MI WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE OBSTACLE/PINE TREE WAS LOCATED ABOUT A HALF OF A MILE NORTH OF FEATHERSTONE ROAD ON ROMMEL ROAD.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CHI04LA065Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSturgis, MIThe failure to maintain obstacle clearance during an intentional low altitude maneuver and the ostentatious display by the pilot-in-command. A factor to the accident was the tree.Feb 9, 2004 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N6387X · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 20120809018259ICruise/Level Flight · Roberts, ILPilot flew into thunderstorm and hail causing minor damage to aircraft and diversion to alternate airport.Aug 9, 2012 · Minor damage