Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bridgman, Michigan 49106
Saturday, March 16, 1991 16:10 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A PRIVATE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE SIGHTSEEING ALONG A LAKESHORE ABOUT 300 FEET ABOVE THE LAKE AND 150 YARDS OFFSHORE. THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER WAS LOOKING TO THE REAR AND TALKING TO THE OTHER PASSENGER WHEN THE PILOT INITIATED A 360 DEGREE TURN AWAY FROM THE BEACH. THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SENSED A STEEP BANK AND A DESCENT, AND TURNED TO LOOK OUT THE WINDSHIELD. ON SEEING THE NOSE BELOW THE HORIZON, THE PASSENGER PULLED BACK ON THE YOKE AND APPLIED POWER TO BREAK THE DESCENT. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE LAKE DURING THE PULLUP.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CORRECT A DESCENT. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S MANEUVERING AT AN IMPROPER ALTITUDE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/16/1991
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1610
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City BRIDGMAN
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49106
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1621 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 120
Weather Observation Facility ID SBN
Elevation of weather observation facility 799
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 22
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 296
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43391
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 9:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N78195
NTSB Number CHI91LA109
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172K
Aircraft Series Identifier 172K
Aircraft Serial Number 17257522
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CHARLES F. HARRELL & PARTNERS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 52210 LILAC RD
Aircraft Owner City SOUTH BEND
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 46628
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CHARLES F. HARRELL & PARTNERS
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 52210 LILAC RD
Operator City SOUTH BEND
Operator State IN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 46628
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 SBN
Departure City SOUTH BEND
Departure State IN
Departure Country
Departure Time 1535
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --