Cessna 340 accident near Coldwater, Michigan, January 15, 2014
On January 15, 2014 at about 4:00 pm local time, a 1973 Cessna 340, registered N10MF, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Coldwater, Michigan (Branch County Memorial Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Airport personnel did not remove the snow banks from the intersecting runway and/or close the intersection runway, which resulted in the airplane impacting the snow banks. Contributing to the accident was the reduced visibility inhibiting the pilot's ability to see the plowed snow hazard.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 15, 2014 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Coldwater, Michigan · Branch County Memorial Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 340, built 1973 · all 340s on the register
- Registration
- N10MF · no longer on the register · serial 340-0198
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed on a short cross-country flight and arrived at his destination airport about 1100. The pilot stated that he overflew the airport and observed blowing snow on both runways. Because the wind was from 220 degrees, he elected to land on runway 22. During the roll-out, the airplane collided with plowed snow at the intersection of runway 07/25. The airplane's nose gear collapsed resulting in substantial damage to the airplane's fuselage. The pilot added that the snow banks should have been removed from the intersection and a NOTAM (notice to airmen) should have been published. A review of the Airport/Facilities Directory's (A/FD) note section for the airport had the notice: "Runway 07/25 plowed during winter months, contact the airport manager for conditions". At 1055, the automated weather reporting station at the airport reported the visibility at 3 miles in light snow, with the wind from 260 degrees at 11 knots. The weather station normally broadcasts the A/FD message about runway 07/25 being plowed during winter months; however, an electrical power interruption erased the message prior to the accident. With reduced visibility and blowing snow on the runways, it's likely that a pilot would not be able to see plowed snow banks at the intersection of runway 04/22 and 07/25.
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
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Snow/slush/ice covered › Effect on operation
- cause Organizational issues › Management › Policy/procedure › Adequacy of policy/proc › Airport
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Low visibility › Effect on operation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of available resources › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Snow/ice › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Operating environment › Meteorological services › Automated weather › Availability of related info
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,300 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,300 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 13, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,549.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 11, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 5,975 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cont Motor TSIO-520 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cont Motor TSIO-520 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Intertech Leasing INC
The flight
- Departed from: KANQ Angola IN at 3:30 pm
- Destination: KOEB Coldwater MI
- Runway 22, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 23°F (-5°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from KOEB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on March 27, 2014. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Other Pertinent Forms and Reports (A/fd) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Weather Reports and Records | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.