# Accident 20040209001309A: Cessna 402B, Sturgis, MI, February 9, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 9, 2004
- Place: Sturgis, MI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Unauth Low Level Opns
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.8128° N, 85.4392° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8128&lon=-85.4392&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6387X, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6387X) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 402B (registry code 207590P, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-402b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental TSIO-520 series (registry code 17040, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 402B
- Reported engine: CONT TSIO520*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,400 total, 120 in this make and model, 120 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI04LA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04LA065) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040209001309A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-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.

## 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 CHI04LA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04LA065), Feb 9, 2004: Cessna 402B (N6387X), Sturgis, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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.

## Other reports on N6387X (1)

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

- [Incident 20120809018259I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120809018259I), Aug 9, 2012: Cessna 402B (N6387X), Roberts, IL, Minor damage. Pilot flew into thunderstorm and hail causing minor damage to aircraft and diversion to alternate airport.

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.

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