Hancock/Houghton Memorial Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Houghton, Michigan 49931
Wednesday, July 28, 1993 1:17 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT AND INSTRUMENT INSTRUCTOR PASSENGER DEPARTED HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT EARLIER IN THE DAY WITH A STOP IN SAGINAW, MICHIGAN, FOR FUEL. THE FINAL LEG OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO THE MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, AREA ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN. DURING THIS FLIGHT THE PILOT REQUESTED A DEVIATION TO HOUGHTON, MICHIGAN, DUE TO DETERIORATING WEATHER AHEAD. THE DEVIATION WAS GRANTED AND ATC PROVIDED THE PILOT HOUGHTON AIRPORT'S WEATHER INCLUDING THE ALTIMETER SETTING. THE PILOT DID NOT REPEAT THE ALTIMETER SETTING. DURING THE APPROACH THE PILOT ELECTED TO GO AROUND BECAUSE HE HAD REACHED A PERSONALLY ESTABLISHED DECISION HEIGHT. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES AND TERRAIN SHORTLY AFTER THE PILOT APPLIED POWER AND PITCH INPUTS. THE ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE AIRPLANE'S ALTIMETER WAS SET TO 29.98' HG., THE AIRPORT'S ALTIMETER SETTING WAS 29.75' HG. AS PROVIDED BY ATC. THE 0113 WEATHER OBSERVATION FROM HOUGHTON CONTAINED AN ALTIMETER SETTING OF 29.73' HG.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot-in-command not following instrument procedures by not using the correct altimeter setting as issued by Air Traffic Control.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/28/1993
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 117
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City HOUGHTON
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49931
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport HANCOCK/HOUGHTON MEMORIAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CMX
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 100
Airport Elevation 1095
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 113 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 280
Weather Observation Facility ID CMX
Elevation of weather observation facility 1095
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 100
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0.38
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1292
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 28 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1025
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:28PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4518S
NTSB Number CHI93LA291
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model A-36
Aircraft Series Identifier A-36
Aircraft Serial Number E-717
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RANDY E. BICKMANN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4652 WEST ARM RD.
Aircraft Owner City SPRING PARK
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55384
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name RANDY E. BICKMANN
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 4652 WEST ARM ROAD
Operator City SPRING PARK
Operator State MN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 55384
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code SAG
Departure City SAGINAW
Departure State MI
Departure Country
Departure Time 57
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MIC
Destination City MINNEAPOLIS
Destination State MN
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 31
Runway Length 6500
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --