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Crash of a Cessna 525A CitationJet CJ2 in Michigan City

Date & Time: Dec 27, 2017 at 0650 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N525KT
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
DuPage - Michigan City
MSN:
525A-0058
YOM:
2002
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3200
Captain / Total hours on type:
300.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2020
Copilot / Total hours on type:
81
Aircraft flight hours:
2681
Circumstances:
The pilot reported that, during the approach following a positioning flight, he saw that the runway had a light dusting of snow on it and that the airplane touched down on speed in the first 1,000 ft of the 4,100- ft-long runway. The copilot, who was the pilot flying, applied heavy braking, but there appeared to be no braking effectiveness, and the airplane did not slow down as expected. The pilot added that, when the airplane reached about two-thirds of the way down the runway, he knew that it was going to overrun the runway due to the loss of only half of its airspeed. He thought that if he aborted the landing, there was a small chance the airplane could become airborne within the remaining runway. The copilot added engine power to abort the landing, and the nose landing gear lifted off, but insufficient runway was remaining to take off. The copilot reduced the engine power to idle, and the airplane overran the runway and went through the airport fence and a guardrail, across a highway, and into a field. Postaccident examination revealed no flat spots or evidence of skidding on the landing gear tires. The flaps were found in the “ground flaps” position, which is not allowed for takeoff. No evidence of any pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures were found with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Based on an airplane weight of 11,000 lbs, the airplane’s stopping distance would have been about 4,400
ft. The flight crew’s improper decision to land on a snow-covered runway that was too short to accommodate the landing in such conditions led to a runway overrun and impact with obstacles.
Probable cause:
The flight crew's improper decision to land on a snow-covered runway that had insufficient runway distance for the airplane to land with the contamination, which resulted in a runway overrun and impact with obstacles.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E90 King Air off Michigan City: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 7, 1980 at 1647 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N2181L
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Chicago - Michigan City
MSN:
LW-181
YOM:
1976
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
8700
Captain / Total hours on type:
1132.00
Circumstances:
While approaching Michigan City on a taxi flight from Chicago, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed into Lake Michigan few miles off shore. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control on final approach due to inadequate maintenance and inspection. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Flight control surfaces: elevator assembly, attachments,
- Binding,
- Loose, part/fitting, missing
- Improper IFR operation,
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Visibility half a mile or less,
- Pivot bolt, P/N AN4-23A found on floor of fuselage,
- Washer and nut missing,
- Destination altimeter setting not obtained.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 520 in Michigan City

Date & Time: Aug 25, 1973 at 2030 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N2634B
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Traverse City - Michigan City
MSN:
520-146
YOM:
1954
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2576
Captain / Total hours on type:
23.00
Circumstances:
On approach to Michigan City on a cargo flight from Traverse City, both engines stopped almost simultaneously. The airplane lost height, struck tree tops and crashed few dozen yards short of runway. The pilot, sole on board, was seriously injured and the airplane was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Both engines failed on final due to mismanagement of fuel. The following factors were reported:
- Inattentive to fuel supply,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- High obstructions,
- Lack of familiarity with aircraft,
- Pilot misunderstood fuel gauge placard.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-50A-DO near Michigan City: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1946 at 0919 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC15577
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Buffalo – Detroit – Chicago
MSN:
4805
YOM:
1941
Flight number:
AA2207
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
3559
Captain / Total hours on type:
3550.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2000
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1000
Aircraft flight hours:
11920
Circumstances:
This flight originated at Buffalo and proceeded uneventfully to a scheduled stop at Detroit, Michigan. Departure from Detroit was at 0748, about six minutes behind schedule, with eighteen passengers, 550 gallons of fuel and on an instrument flight plan to cruise at 2,500 feet sea level. Routine position reports were made at 0800, 0807 and 0822. At 0840 the flight was instructed by Air Route Traffic Control at Chicago to climb to 4,000 feet sea level which it did immediately. At 0859 Chicago Air Route Traffic Control cleared the flight from South Bend, Indiana, to the Chicago Tower to maintain 4,000 feet sea level until ten minutes after passing South Bend. At 0902 the flight reported passing South Bend. There were no further radio contacts with the flight until 0918 when it transmitted, "Both engines going bad descending at 1,000 feet per minute looking for opening." This was followed almost immediately by, "Altitude is at present 900 feet." Chicago immediately replied, "Suggest proceed to South Bend immediately if able." This was not acknowledged. The plane crashed at or about that time in the northeastern part of Michigan City at a point approximately two miles from Lake Michigan. The direction of Initial impact was just south of east or about opposite the course from Detroit to Chicago.
Probable cause:
The probable cause of this accident was the accumulation of carburetor ice following the loss of power in both engines as a result of fuel starvation. The reason for fuel starvation has not been determined.
Final Report: