Beech 200 accident near Oscoda, Michigan, September 25, 2018
On September 25, 2018 at about 10:13 am local time, a 1977 Beech 200, registered N241CK, was destroyed in an accident during approach (IFR final approach) near Oscoda, Michigan (Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's descent below minimum descent altitude during the nonprecision instrument approach for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 25, 2018 · about 10:13 am local time
- Place
- Oscoda, Michigan · Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech 200 Undesignat, built 1977 · all 200s on the register
- Registration
- N241CK · no longer on the register · serial BB272
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport pilot of the multiengine airplane was cleared for the VOR approach. The weather at the airport was reported as 400 ft overcast with 4 miles visibility in drizzle. When the airplane failed to arrive at the airport as scheduled, a search was initiated, and the wreckage was located soon thereafter. Radar data indicated that the pilot was provided vectors to intercept the final approach course. The last radar return indicated that the airplane was at 2,200 ft and 8.1 miles from the runway threshold. It impacted terrain 3.5 miles from the runway threshold and left of the final approach course. According to the published approach procedure, the minimum descent altitude was 1,100 feet, which was 466 ft above airport elevation. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the airplane had impacted the tops of trees and descended at a 45° angle to ground contact; the airplane was destroyed by a postcrash fire, thus limiting the examination; however, no anomalies were observed that would have precluded normal operation. The landing gear was extended, and approach flaps had been set. Impact and fire damage precluded an examination of the flight and navigation instruments. Autopsy and toxicology of the pilot were not performed; therefore, whether a physiological issue may have contributed to the accident could not be determined. The location of the wreckage indicates that the pilot descended below the minimum descent altitude (MDA) for the approach; however, the reason for the pilot's descent below MDA could not be determined based on the available information.
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
- Altitude deviation during approach (IFR final approach) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (IFR final approach)
- Fire/smoke (post-impact) during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of policy/procedure › Pilot
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,806 hours in all; 201 in this make and model; 72 in the last 90 days; 64 in the last 30 days; 2,687 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 31, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,933.5 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, March 28, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-41 (turboprop); 13,913 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-41 (turboprop); 12,802 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: YIP Ypsilanti MI at 9:13 am
- Destination: OSC Oscoda MI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 06, 11,600 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 10:35 am from OSC, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
10 documents, released by the NTSB on August 13, 2019. 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, 7 pages | View Download |
| 2 | N241CK, Initial Approach Plots. Plan View | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 3 | N241CK, Initial Approach Plots, Profile View | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | N241CK, radar Plots, Yip-os | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 5 | KFS85 Data Plots (Multiple Sensors) | PDF, 24 pages | View Download |
| 6 | VOR 6 Approach Procedure with Accident Location Plotted | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Wreckage Path, Google Earth | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Certification of Party Representative | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 10 | Photos | PDF, 12 pages | 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.
