# NTSB CHI85FA351: Cessna 404, N404EX, South Lyon, MI, August 16, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 16, 1985, 07:09 local (11:09 UTC)
- Place: South Lyon, MI
- Coordinates: 42.459903, -83.649116 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4599&lon=-83.6491&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12862
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI85FA351
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12862/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI85FA351

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Undetermined, cruise - normal
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT TOOK OFF AND CLIMBED TO 5000 FT UNEVENTFULLY. IT THEN DROPPED OFF RADAR AND SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A FLAT UPRIGHT ATTITUDE. A POST-CRASH FIRE CONSUMED THE MAJORITY OF THE AIRFRAME. ENG AND PROP TEARDOWNS INDICATED NO ABNORMALITIES AND PWR AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. A FIRE IN THE CARGO COMPARTMENT WAS RULED OUT BY ATF INVESTIGATORS. MAIN ELECTRICAL SWITCHES WERE FOUND OFF IN THE WRECKAGE. AN OXYGEN BOTTLE IN THE NOSE CAUGHT FIRE SEPARATLEY FROM THE REST OF THE ACFT BUT IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED IF THE OXYGEN FIRE TOOK PLACE IN THE AIR OR AFTER IMPACT. THE DOOR WARNING, LEFT AND RIGHT ALT OUT, LEFT AND RIGHT HYD FLOW AND LEFT AND RIGHT LOW FUEL ANNUNCIATOR BULBS EXHIBITED STRETCHED FILAMENTS WHEN EXAMINED FOLLOWING THE CRASH.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N404EX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N404EX-1988-06-10), registration cancelled 1988-06-10, S/N 4040017 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 404
- Registry model: [Cessna 404](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-404) (registry code 2075901) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 404-0017
- Airframe hours: 5935
- Engines: CONTINENTAL GTSIO-520-M 375 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 7, 1985, 17 hours before
- Departed: DTW, DETROIT, MI
- Destination: MBS, SAGINAW, MI
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,650 total, 70 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 4 knots
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DTW, 20 nm away

## 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 19850816075989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850816075989A), Aug 16, 1985: Cessna 404CESSNA, South Lyon, MI, Destroyed. Impacted trees and ground in a flat attitude and burned. No cause determined.

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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