# NTSB CHI76AC091: Beech D55, N8330N, Coldwater, MI, September 16, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 16, 1976
- Place: Coldwater, MI · COLDWATER, MI
- Location: 41.9460° N, 84.9993° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Coldwater, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9460&lon=-84.9993&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 21, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 156090
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI76AC091
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI76AC091

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4149  76/9/16  NR.COLDWATER,MI       BEECH D55           CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 53, 1080
        TIME - 2113                    N8330N              PX-  5  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 400 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT
          MANKATO,MN
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                LANDING: INITIAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    1100
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          HAZE                                                      69
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           30                                                       12
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- BATTLECREEK WX.WITNESSES REPORTED LOW OVERCAST CLOUDS,MISTING RAIN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8330N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8330N-1977-03-04), registration cancelled 1977-03-04, S/N TE-543 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH D55
- Registry model: [Beech D55](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d55) (registry code 1152730) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Branch County Mem

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19760916039249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760916039249A), Sep 16, 1976: Beech D55, MI, Destroyed, 5 fatal

## Other investigations on N8330N (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 FTW69F0323](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW69F0323), Dec 6, 1968: Beech D55 (N8330N), San Antonio, TX, substantial damage

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.

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