# NTSB CHI92FAMS2: Cessna 172N, N4500E, Lake Michigan, MI, July 18, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Missing aircraft · Final report
- Date: July 18, 1992, 11:50 local (15:50 UTC)
- Place: Lake Michigan, MI
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 21, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15317
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI92FAMS2
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15317/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI92FAMS2

## Probable cause

UNDETERMINED.

## Sequence of events

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

- Missing aircraft, unknown
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)

## Analysis

PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS DEPARTED BATTLE CREEK MICHIGAN AT 1000, ENROUTE TO BEAVER ISLAND LOCATED IN NORTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN. PILOT WAS RECEIVING VFR ADVISORIES FROM MINNEAPOLIS CENTER, AND REQUESTED A DESCENT NORTH OF TRAVERSE CITY TO GET BELOW A SCATTERED LAYER. DESCENT TOOK THE AIRPLANE BELOW RADAR COVERAGE, AND VFR SERVICES WERE TERMINATED. PILOT ACKNOWLEDGED 1200 TRANSPONDER CODE, AND REPORTED THAT HE WAS VFR AT 1200 FEET MSL. THIS WAS THE LAST CONTACT WITH THE AIRPLANE AT 1150. THE BROTHER OF ONE OF THE PASSENGERS, WHOM THE GROUP WAS GOING TO VISIT, ATTEMPTED TO CALL AND TELL THEM NOT TO COME BECAUSE THE ISLAND WAS ENGULFED BY HEAVY FOG, BUT THEY HAD ALREADY LEFT. HE REPORTED THE AIRPLANE MISSING AT 1700. COORDINATED SEARCH FOUND NO TRACE OF AIRPLANE OR OCCUPANTS. THREE WEEKS LATER, PERSON WALKING ON BEACH NEAR GOOD HART, MICHIGAN, FOUND AN AIRPLANE WHEEL AND WHEEL FAIRING. AIRPLANE AND OCCUPANTS ARE STILL MISSING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4500E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4500E-1995-08-25), registration cancelled 1995-08-25, S/N 17271613 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17271613
- Airframe hours: 3310
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Battle Creek Air Service, Inc.
- Registered owner: Tom Cramutolo
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 1, 1992, 40 hours before
- Departed: BTL, BATTLE CREEK, MI
- Destination: SJX, ST. JAMES, MI

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 100 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TVC, 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 19920718030099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920718030099A), Jul 18, 1992: Cessna 172N, Lake Michigan, MI, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Became missing on flight to northern Michigan. Dense fog around island destination. Wheel and fairing found.

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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