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NTSB Report

August 16, 1985 · Cessna 404 · N404EX

South Lyon, MI

Overview

Report Status

Preliminary report

Event Type

Accident

Date

August 16, 1985

Injury Outcomes

1 injury (1 fatality)

Location

South Lyon, MI

Aircraft

Cessna 404

Tail Number

N404EX

Operator

Wolverine Air Charter

Injuries

Fatal

Aircraft Damage

Destroyed

NTSB Number

CHI85FA351

THE ACFT TOOK OFF AND CLIMBED TO 5000 FT UNEVENTFULLY. IT THEN DROPPED OFF RADAR AND SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A FLAT UPRIGHT ATTITUDE. A POST-CRASH FIRE CONSUMED THE MAJORITY OF THE AIRFRAME. ENG AND PROP TEARDOWNS INDICATED NO ABNORMALITIES AND PWR AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. A FIRE IN THE CARGO COMPARTMENT WAS RULED OUT BY ATF INVESTIGATORS. MAIN ELECTRICAL SWITCHES WERE FOUND OFF IN THE WRECKAGE. AN OXYGEN BOTTLE IN THE NOSE CAUGHT FIRE SEPARATLEY FROM THE REST OF THE ACFT BUT IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED IF THE OXYGEN FIRE TOOK PLACE IN THE AIR OR AFTER IMPACT. THE DOOR WARNING, LEFT AND RIGHT ALT OUT, LEFT AND RIGHT HYD FLOW AND LEFT AND RIGHT LOW FUEL ANNUNCIATOR BULBS EXHIBITED STRETCHED FILAMENTS WHEN EXAMINED FOLLOWING THE CRASH.

Full Narrative

THE ACFT TOOK OFF AND CLIMBED TO 5000 FT UNEVENTFULLY. IT THEN DROPPED OFF RADAR AND SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A FLAT UPRIGHT ATTITUDE. A POST-CRASH FIRE CONSUMED THE MAJORITY OF THE AIRFRAME. ENG AND PROP TEARDOWNS INDICATED NO ABNORMALITIES AND PWR AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. A FIRE IN THE CARGO COMPARTMENT WAS RULED OUT BY ATF INVESTIGATORS. MAIN ELECTRICAL SWITCHES WERE FOUND OFF IN THE WRECKAGE. AN OXYGEN BOTTLE IN THE NOSE CAUGHT FIRE SEPARATLEY FROM THE REST OF THE ACFT BUT IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED IF THE OXYGEN FIRE TOOK PLACE IN THE AIR OR AFTER IMPACT. THE DOOR WARNING, LEFT AND RIGHT ALT OUT, LEFT AND RIGHT HYD FLOW AND LEFT AND RIGHT LOW FUEL ANNUNCIATOR BULBS EXHIBITED STRETCHED FILAMENTS WHEN EXAMINED FOLLOWING THE CRASH.

Flight

Event TypeAccident

Event Time07:09 EDT

Nearest Airport20nm NW

Runway0

Runway Length0

Runway Width0

Flight Plan FiledIFR

Aircraft FireGrd

Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 404

Tail NumberN404EX

Aircraft CategoryAir

DamageDestroyed

OperatorWolverine Air Charter

Operating RulePart 135

Engines2

Engine TypeReciprocating

Engine DetailsContinental · GTSIO-520-M · Reciprocating · 375

Seats8

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)

Fatal1

Serious0

Minor0

Uninjured0

Total1

Crew 1Age 37 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC

LightDaylight

Wind360° @ 4 kt

CeilingNone

Temperature / Dew Point59 / 57

Altimeter30.00 inHg

Observation Time11:05

Weather SourceWFAC

500 – Data service is offline

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August 16, 1985 · Cessna 404 · N404EX

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