W K Kellogg Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Battle Creek, Michigan 49015
Tuesady, March 27, 2012 7:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

After the pilot finished the preflight inspection in the hangar, the maintenance technician pulled the airplane out of the hangar and connected the auxiliary power cart to the airplane. Shortly thereafter, the pilot boarded the airplane and proceeded with the normal checklist. The pilot signaled to the maintenance technician to disconnect the power cart. The maintenance technician subsequently signaled that the pilot was clear to start the engines. After departure, the pilot noted a problem with the landing gear, and, after establishing that the tow bar was, most likely, still attached to the nosewheel, he diverted to a nearby airport for a precautionary landing. During the landing, the nose landing gear collapsed and the primary structure in the nose of the airplane was substantially damaged.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The maintenance technician did not remove the tow bar prior to the flight.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/27/2012
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 730
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Battle Creek
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49015
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 421823N
Event Location Longitude 0851500w
Event Location Airport W K Kellogg Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KBTL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 952
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 753 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KBTL
Elevation of weather observation facility 952
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 0
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KBTL 271153Z 13009KT 10SM CLR 00/M07 A3029 R
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 29795
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record May 16 2012 4:00PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1212C
NTSB Number CEN12CA215
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 441
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 441-0346
Certified Max Gross Weight 9850
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 7
Total number of seats on the aircraft 9
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Mar 13 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 12499
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BIL MAR FOODS INC DBA
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8300 96TH AVE
Aircraft Owner City ZEELAND
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 49464
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name BIL MAR FOODS INC DBA
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 8300 96TH AVE
Operator City ZEELAND
Operator State MI
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 49464
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Executive/Corporate
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code KMKG
Departure City Muskegon
Departure State MI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 630
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code KBTL
Destination City Battle Creek
Destination State MI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 12 2012 11:24AM
User who most recently changed record kaij
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 23R
Runway Length 10004
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --