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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.

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NTSB Report

April 18, 1988 · Beech 23 · N2326L

Brighton, MI

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 18, 1988
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 minor injuries), 2 uninjured
Location
Brighton, MI
Aircraft
Beech 23
Tail Number
N2326L
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI88DEC01

The pilot stated that, after a local pleasure flight with his children as passengers, he returned to his departure airport and re-entered the traffic pattern for runway 22. He reported that while on final approach he didn't like the way things looked and chose to go-around. He stated that initially the aircraft responded normally and began to climb, but 'immediately after metering off flaps, the engine began to vibrate grossly out-of-balance.' The pilot performed emergency procedures, but the 'loss of power and altitude continued....lake landing was very suspect due to lack of altitude. Reviewed area for alternative - none!' The aircraft struck the top of a large tree and then contacted a smaller tree before it descended into the lake. Pilot and passengers were able to exit the aircraft before it sank. The aircraft was submerged for more than 20 hours before it was recovered from the lake. A subsequent engine run-up was satisfactorily accomplished.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN (TREES AND A LAKE) ENCOUNTERED DURING A FORCED LANDING MADE NECESSARY BY THE PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE AIRCRAFT'S POWERPLANT DURING AND ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND. THE OCCUPANTS WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE IT SANK; THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBMERGED FOR OVER 20 HOURS BEFORE IT WAS SALVAGED FROM THE LAKE.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT STATED THAT, AFTER A LOCAL PLEASURE FLIGHT WITH HIS CHILDREN AS PASSENGERS, HE RETURNED TO HIS DEPARTURE AIRPORT AND RE-ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR RUNWAY 22. HE REPORTED THAT WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH HE DIDN'T LIKE THE WAY THINGS LOOKED AND CHOSE TO GO-AROUND. HE STATED THAT INITIALLY THE AIRCRAFT RESPONDED NORMALLY AND BEGAN TO CLIMB, BUT 'IMMEDIATELY AFTER METERING OFF FLAPS, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO VIBRATE GROSSLY OUT-OF-BALANCE.' THE PILOT PERFORMED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, BUT THE 'LOSS OF POWER AND ALTITUDE CONTINUED....LAKE LANDING WAS VERY SUSPECT DUE TO LACK OF ALTITUDE. REVIEWED AREA FOR ALTERNATIVE - NONE!' THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE TOP OF A LARGE TREE AND THEN CONTACTED A SMALLER TREE BEFORE IT DESCENDED INTO THE LAKE. PILOT AND PASSENGERS WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE IT SANK. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBMERGED FOR MORE THAN 20 HOURS BEFORE IT WAS RECOVERED FROM THE LAKE. A SUBSEQUENT ENGINE RUN-UP WAS SATISFACTORILY ACCOMPLISHED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:30 EDT
Nearest AirportHyne Field (0nm N)
Runway22
Runway Length1800 ft
Runway Width30 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBeech 23
Tail NumberN2326L
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-D2B · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 minor injuries), 2 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor2
Uninjured2
Total4
Crew 1Age 42 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind320° @ 12 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point39 C / 12 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time04:15
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data