Cessna 402B accident near Bronson, MI
On January 23, 2002, a Cessna 402B (airplane) was involved in an accident near Bronson, MI. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- January 23, 2002
- Place
- Bronson, MI
- Aircraft
- Cessna 402B · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 41.898°N, 85.183°W
- NTSB ID
- 20020201X00166
Official records · CHI02FA067
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- ATC Transcripts: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On January 23, 2002, about 0735 eastern standard time, a Cessna 402B, N371JD, piloted by a commercial pilot, was destroyed when it impacted the ground near Bronson, Michigan. A witness described the airplane maneuvering at a low altitude just prior to impact. The 14 CFR Part 91 positioning flight was operating on an instrument flight rules flight plan in instrument meteorological conditions. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The business flight originated from the Kirsch Municipal Airport (IRS), Sturgis, Michigan, about 0730 and was bound for the Ann Arbor Municipal Airport (ARB), Ann Arbor, Michigan. A witness to the accident described the airplane flying south about 200 feet above the ground and then turning back to the north. He said that he saw the airplane making a descending left turn back to the west when the airplane pulled up sharply and then pitched nose down and impacted the ground. He said there was a large explosion and fireball. The airplane impacted the ground at coordinates 41 degrees 53.845 minutes north, 85 degrees 11.005 minutes west. PERSONELL INFORMATION The pilot held commercial pilot and flight instructor certificates with single and multi-engine airplane, and instrument airplane ratings. Records show that the pilot completed an initial competency check as required by 14 CFR Part 135 on March 15, 2001, in a Cessna 310 airplane. On October 15, 2001, the pilot completed a competency check in the Cessna 402B airplane. Company paperwork indicates that the pilot had accumulated 1,800 hours total flight experience,
Probable cause
The maneuver to avoid the utility wire while maneuvering resulting in an inadvertent stall and subsequent impact with the ground. Factors were the pilot's inadvertent activation of the elevator trim, resulting in a loss of control during flight in instrument meteorological conditions, as a result of pilot's lack of knowledge concerning the operation of the autopilot system. Another factor was the
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Browse: Michigan · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
