- Date
- April 18, 1988, 19:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place
- Brighton, MI
- Injuries
- 2 minor, 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N2326LBeech 23
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 25, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19880418009659A
- Case key
- 13844
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The unsuitable terrain (trees and a lake) encountered during a forced landing made necessary by the partial failure of the aircraft's powerplant during and attempted go-around. The occupants were able to exit the aircraft before it sank; the aircraft was submerged for over 20 hours before it was salvaged from the lake.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated that, after a local pleasure flight with his children as passengers, he returned to his departure airport and re-entered the traffic pattern for runway 22. He reported that while on final approach he didn't like the way things looked and chose to go-around. He stated that initially the aircraft responded normally and began to climb, but 'immediately after metering off flaps, the engine began to vibrate grossly out-of-balance.' The pilot performed emergency procedures, but the 'loss of power and altitude continued....lake landing was very suspect due to lack of altitude. Reviewed area for alternative - none!' The aircraft struck the top of a large tree and then contacted a smaller tree before it descended into the lake. Pilot and passengers were able to exit the aircraft before it sank. The aircraft was submerged for more than 20 hours before it was recovered from the lake. A subsequent engine run-up was satisfactorily accomplished.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2326L
- Reported as
- Beech 23
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- M-152
- Airframe hours
- 3,072
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D2B, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Donald Andrew Lademann
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 12, 1988 · 7 hours before
- Airport
- 45G · Hyne Field, runway 22, 1,800 × 30 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 42
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 74 total · 6 in this make and model · 40 as pilot in command · 6 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 39 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- LAN, 36 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.