Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

March 4, 1998 · Cessna 650 · N502T

Manistee, MI

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 4, 1998
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (9 uninjured)
Location
Manistee, MI
Aircraft
Cessna 650
Tail Number
N502T
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI98LA100

The airplane touched down approximately 3,100 to 3,200 feet down the 5,502-foot-long runway. It continued off the end of the runway where the nose gear collapsed puncturing the pressure bulkhead. The AWOS report received by the flightcrew during the approach reported the weather at the airport as partially obscured with a 200 foot broken ceiling. Minimum descent altitude for the approach was 441 feet with weather minimums of a 500 foot ceiling and 1 1/4 mile visibility. The flight data recorder shows the airplane touched down at an airspeed of 138 knots. The crew called out a Vref during the approach of 132 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilots excessive airspeed during landing, exceeding the proper touchdown point, and failure to execute a missed approach.

Full Narrative

On March 4, 1998, at 0907 eastern standard time, a Cessna 650, N502T, operated by Tenneco Management Company, experienced a nose gear collapse during an overrun landing on runway 09 (5,502' x 100') at the Manistee County - Blacker Airport, Manistee, Michigan. The 14 CFR Part 91 corporate flight was operating in instrument meteorological conditions on an IFR flight plan. The captain, co-pilot, and seven passengers on board were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The flight originated from Waukegan, Illinois, at 0737 central standard time. The pilot-in-command (PIC), who was flying the airplane, reported they flew the VOR approach to runway 09. He reported that the lack of contrast due to the snow covered terrain distorted their "depth perception and other visual cues" when transitioning from instruments to visual for landing. The PIC reported that the airplane "floated" during the landing flare. He reported that the airplane traveled off the end of the runway even though they used the spoilers, speed brakes, maximum reverse, and maximum braking. The co-pilot reported they received the Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) report from Manistee approximately 10 minutes prior to arrival. He reported the "Weather was above required minimums on all reports obtained." He also reported that Manistee UNICOM informed them that there was approximately 1/2 inch of snow on the runway and braking action was fair to poor. He reported that they were cleared for the approach and the airplane was in VFR conditions with "clear ground (water over Lake Michigan) contact with a haze layer visible inland in the approximate location of the airport." He continued to report that the runway lights were visible at a point 2 miles from the airport. The co-pilot reported, as the pilot-in-command did, that the ground was snow covered which provided "no visual contrast to aid depth perception and the departure end of the runway was not discernible...." He reported the airplane floated during the landing which resulted in a touchdown point further down the runway then what they desired. The Manistee County - Blacker Airport manager reported the runway lights were on high with the REILS and VASI on at the time of the accident. He reported "When aircraft came by office it was high (above normal touchdown) and was out of sight when it touched down." He estimated the visibility was about one mile at the time of the accident. He drove in his vehicle down the runway and from the tracks on the snow covered runway, he estimated that N502T touched down 3,100 to 3,200 feet down the runway. Photographs taken by the airport manager after the accident show the terrain was snow covered with grass visible through the snow adjacent to the runway. The airplane came to rest approximately 120 feet off the departure end of runway 09. The nose gear collapsed and punctured the pressure bulkhead when the airplane contacted soft terrain off the end of the runway. A cassette copy of the cockpit voice recorder tape was provided to the National Transportation Safety Board by the Tenneco Management Company. According to Tenneco procedures, the non- flying pilot, in this case the co-pilot, would be calling out checklist items on the Landing Preliminary checklist. The co-pilot received the AWOS weather just prior to being cleared to 3,000 feet by air traffic control. He briefed the PIC that the winds were being reported as "350 at 8." He then stated "now instead of two scattered it's partially obscured and two broken." Several comments followed regarding the decreased visibility just past the shoreline. The co-pilot commented "maybe we can see better than we think when we get in there." He then remarked, "well I'll tell you what she's gonna be tight...." This remark was followed by the 500 foot altitude call-out from the Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS). Approximately twenty-one seconds later the co-pilot stated "I got the runway lights." This is followed by the GPWS call-out "minimum, minimum." He then stated "still have runway lights, approach lights." The GPWS call-out "sink rate, two hundred" was heard followed by the PIC calling for "final flaps" and the co-pilot saying "ok there's the runway." This was followed by two more "sink rate" call-outs then the sound of the airplane touching down. One of the pilots returned to the cockpit approximately five minutes after the accident to call for a vehicle and to cancel their flight plan. As he was switching radio frequencies the Manistee AWOS can be heard over the radio. The AWOS at that time was reporting "partially obscured ceiling 100 broken." The VOR/GPS RWY 9 approach minimum descent altitude for a Category C airplane with DME is 441 feet. Weather minimums for the approach are 500 foot ceiling and 1 1/4 mile visibility. A review of the flight data recorder printout provided by Tenneco Management Company shows the airplane touched down at an indicated airspeed of about 138 knots. The cockpit voice recorder revealed the co-pilot called out a Vref during the "Landing Preliminary" checklist of "32."

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:07 EST
Nearest AirportManistee County-Blacker (0nm)
Runway9
Runway Length5502 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 650
Tail NumberN502T
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsGarrett · TFE-731 · Turbofan · 4080
Seats9

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (9 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured9
Total9
Crew 1Age 50 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind350° @ 8 kt
Visibility4 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 1100 ft
Temperature / Dew Point30 C / 25 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time13:57
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data