# NTSB CHI81FA011: Beech E90, N2181L, Michigan City, IN, December 7, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 7, 1980
- Place: Michigan City, IN · MICHIGAN CITY, IN
- Location: 41.7088° N, 86.8669° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Michigan City, IN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7088&lon=-86.8669&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 10, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 79406
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI81FA011
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81FA011

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3650   80/12/7   MICHIGAN CITY,IN    BEECH E90           CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1647                    N2181L              PX-  3  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            53, 8700 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            1132 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CHICAGO,IL                  MICHIGAN CITY,IN
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
           AIRFRAME - FLIGHT CONTROL SURFACES: ELEVATOR ASSEMBLY,ATTACHMENTS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - BINDING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - LOOSE,PART/FITTING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MISSING
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
           PERSONNEL - TRAFFIC CONTROL PERSONNEL: OTHER
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               100
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/2 MILE OR LESS                                         RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       55
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          130                                                       5
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- PIVOT BOLT,P/N AN4-23A,FND ON FLOOR OF FUSELAGE,WASHER & NUT MISSING.DEST ALSTG NOT OBTAINED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2181L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2181L-2011-07-11), registration cancelled 2011-07-11, S/N LW-181, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH E90
- Registry model: [Beech E-90](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-e-90) (registry code 1152914) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (registry code 52043, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19801207072459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19801207072459A), Dec 7, 1980: Beech E90, Michigan City, IN, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Crashed into lake during adf approach. Found bolt missing in elevator bell crank. Nose reported in area deferred.

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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