Cessna 525A accident near Michigan City, Indiana, December 27, 2017
On December 27, 2017 at about 12:50 pm local time, a 2002 Cessna 525A, registered N525KT, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Michigan City, Indiana (Michigan City Municipal Airpor airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
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.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 27, 2017 · about 12:50 pm local time
- Place
- Michigan City, Indiana · Michigan City Municipal Airpor · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 525A, built 2002 · all 525As on the register
- Registration
- N525KT · registry record · serial 525A-0058
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Other weather encounter during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Flight crew
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Landing distance › Capability exceeded
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Snow/slush/ice covered surface › Decision related to condition
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Snow/slush/ice covered surface › Effect on operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Surface speed/braking › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,200 hours in all; 300 in this make and model
- Last flight review: September 11, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,020 hours in all; 81 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 1, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,681 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Williams FJ44-2C (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Williams FJ44-2C (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Integrated Flight Resources INC
The flight
- Departed from: DPA West Chicago IL at 12:22 pm
- Destination: MGC Michigan City IN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 20, 4,100 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,900 ft; scat at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 9°F (-13°C), dew point 3°F (-16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.64 inHg
- Observation at 12:35 pm from MGC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
17 documents, released by the NTSB on October 9, 2020. 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, 14 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Interview - Pethan | PDF, 24 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Interview - Marazas | PDF, 23 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Cockpit Voice Recorder - Specialist's Summary Report | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Police Incident Summary | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Record of Correspondence - Airport Manager | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Record of Correspondence - FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | radar Plot | map file | Download |
| 9 | ATC Transcript | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 10 | Airport Surveillance Camera Locations | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 11 | Surveillance Video 1 of 4 | video | View Download |
| 12 | Airplane Flight Manual Excerpt | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 13 | Surveillance Video 2 of 4 | video | View Download |
| 14 | Surveillance Video 3 of 4 | video | View Download |
| 15 | Surveillance Video 4 of 4 | video | View Download |
| 16 | Record of Examination | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 17 | Sun and Moon Data | PDF, 2 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.