# NTSB CHI97FAMS2: Beech 95-C55, N242BS, Grand Haven, MI, April 21, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Missing aircraft · Final report - Date: April 20, 1997, 21:05 local (Apr 21, 1997, 01:05 UTC) - Place: Grand Haven, MI - Coordinates: 43.049713, -86.220504 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0497&lon=-86.2205&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report September 4, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10446 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI97FAMS2 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10446/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97FAMS2 ## Probable cause undetermined. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undetermined, unknown - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) ## Analysis The flight was observed on radar to descend from 10,000 feet msl until radar contact was lost at about 3,000 feet msl. This location was approximately 13 miles west of Grand Haven, Michigan, over Lake Michigan. Debris was located in that general area on the surface of the lake. The airplane was presumed to have been destroyed. The pilot and one passenger were presumed to have sustained fatal injuries. There was no forecast for IFR conditions, severe weather warnings, or warnings for ice or turbulence along the route of flight. The pilot stated during a briefing that the airplane contained four hours of fuel. There were no distress calls recorded from the airplane. The airplane remained missing. ## Factual narrative On April 20, 1997, at 2105 eastern daylight time, a Beech 95-C55, N242BS, was observed on radar to descend from 10,000 feet mean sea level (msl) until being lost on radar, about 3,000 feet msl. The location was about 13 miles west of Grand Haven, Michigan, over Lake Michigan. Debris was located in that general area, on the surface of the lake. The airplane is presumed to be destroyed. The pilot and one passenger are presumed to have sustained fatal injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating on an IFR flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the closest land-based weather reporting station to the impact location. The flight departed Marshall, Michigan, about 2030 with a planned intermediate stop of Medford, Wisconsin, and final destination of Fargo, North Dakota. An individual identifying himself as the pilot-in-command of N242BS contacted the Lansing (Michigan), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS), at 1908 requesting an IFR route briefing from Marshall, Michigan, to Medford, Wisconsin. A transcript of that conversation is attached as an addendum to this report. There was no forecast for IFR conditions, severe weather warnings, warnings for ice or turbulence along the route of flight or at the planned destinations. At the end of the briefing the pilot filed an IFR flight plan with an intended departure time from Marshall of 1935. In that flight plan the pilot requested a cruising altitude of 10,000 feet msl and he stated that there was an anticipated fuel endurance of four hours. The first recorded radio contact with the Grand Rapids (Michigan), FAA, Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT), Arrival Radar, occurred at 2030, when the pilot of N242BS radioed to obtain the IFR clearance and routing to the initial destination, stating, "Two four two bravo sierra's off Marshall, IFR to mike delta zulu." The pilot received an IFR clearance from the ATCT. At 2103, the pilot called the ATCT requesting, "... do you get me on radar with... ?" There were no further recorded radio communications with N242BS. The transcripts from communications between N242BS and the ATCT are attached to this report. A "Recorded Radar Study" was conducted by the NTSB Office of Research and Engineering from data supplied by the FAA Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC). The data shows N242BS, at 2105, in a descent from 10,000 feet msl until being lost on radar about 3,000 feet msl. During this time no radio communications were recorded from N242BS. The complete study is attached to this report. No eyewitnesses were located who stated seeing the airplane in flight during this timeframe. Debris was located on the surface of Lake Michigan, about 13 miles west of Grand Haven, Michigan, on and after April 21, 1997. The debris was presumed to be from N242BS. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N242BS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N242BS-2000-08-07), registration cancelled 2000-08-07, S/N TE-156 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 95-C55 - Registry model: [Beech 95-C55](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-c55) (registry code 1152708) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TE-156 - Airframe hours: 4507 - Engines: Continental IO-520-C 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: Unknown - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Staart Aero Enterprises, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 25, 1996 - Departed: 5D8, MARSHALL, MI - Destination: MDZ, MEDFORD, WI - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 440 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 250° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MKG, 15 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 19970420006069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970420006069A), Apr 20, 1997: Beech 95C55, Grand Haven, MI, Destroyed, 2 fatal. At 10000 ft IFR dived into lake Michigan. Only small pieces recovered. (-23) the aircraft was at 10,000 feet northwest bound when it suddenly lost altitude and… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.