Cessna 402B N6387X

Summary

On 9 February 2004 at about 20:30 local time, a Cessna 402B registered N6387X was involved in an accident near Sturgis, Michigan, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 February 2004 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Sturgis, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Kirsch Muni (IRS)

Coordinates

41.8128, -85.4392

Aircraft

Cessna 402B

Registration

N6387X

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sturgis → Sturgis

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI04LA065

1 person was seriously injured.

The failure to maintain obstacle clearance during an intentional low altitude maneuver and the ostentatious display by the pilot-in-command. A factor to the accident was the tree.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane sustained substantial damage when it impacted a tree during low altitude maneuvering. The pilot-in-command decided to over fly a friend's house. The pilot-in-command executed a steep left turn for 360 degrees and leveled the airplane just above the tree line. The pilot saw a large pine tree about 30 feet ahead of the airplane. The pilot-in-command began to pull up on the airplane but it impacted the tree causing serious injuries to the pilot. The pilot rated passenger took control of the airplane and landed without further incident. The pilot rated passenger reported that neither he nor the pilot-in-command were using their shoulder harnesses at the time of the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.