Beech B24R accident near Dowagiac, Michigan, May 11, 2011
On May 11, 2011 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Beech B24R, registered N9321S, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Dowagiac, Michigan (Dowagiac Municipal airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor's failure to maintain an appropriate glide path and airspeed during the landing approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 2011 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Dowagiac, Michigan · Dowagiac Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B24R · all B24Rs on the register
- Registration
- N9321S · no longer on the register · serial MC-341
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While demonstrating a power-off spot landing to a student, the certified flight instructor (CFI) recognized that the airplane would not make it to the 1,000 foot runway markings he was aiming for, but felt that he would make it to the runway. He allowed the airplane to get too low on the approach at too slow an airspeed. When the airplane was about 30 feet from the runway end at 10 feet above the ground, he began to add engine power, but the airplane stalled and impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and left landing gear. The CFI reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR pattern final)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,518 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 3,249 as pilot in command; 702 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 3, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 755 hours in all; 12 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,380 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 13, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BEH Benton Harbor MI at 7:15 pm
- Destination: BEH Benton Harbor MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,700 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 8 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,300 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from BEH, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN11CA362.