Britten-Norman BN-2A accident near Beaver Island, Michigan, November 13, 2021
On November 13, 2021 at about 6:49 pm local time, a 1970 Britten-Norman BN-2A, registered N866JA, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Beaver Island, Michigan (Welke airport). It was a business flight under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 4 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during final approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control at an altitude too low to recover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 13, 2021 · about 6:49 pm local time · cases in 2021
- Place
- Beaver Island, Michigan · Welke · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Britten-Norman BN-2A, built 1970 · all BN-2As on the register
- Registration
- N866JA · registry record · serial 185
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A pilot-rated witness observed the airplane during the final approach to the destination airport and stated that the airplane was flying slowly, with a high pitch attitude, and was “wallowing” as if nobody was flying. The airplane stalled and impacted the ground about 300 ft from the runway. GPS and automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data captured the accident flight, but the ADS-B data ended about 0.24 miles before the accident. GPS data showed that the airplane’s speed was at or near the published stall speed for the airplane’s given loading condition. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. Examination of the airplane verified flight and engine control continuity. No preimpact anomalies were found with respect to the airplane, engines, or systems. The pilot allowed the airspeed to decrease during the approach, increased pitch attitude, and exceeded critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and spin into terrain.
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
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Capability exceeded
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,949 hours in all; 136 in this make and model; 2,606 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 21, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 20,784 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 28, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 6,200 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Lycoming O-540-E4C5 (piston); 7,699 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming O-540-E4C5 (piston); 4,711 hours total
- Operator: Mcphillips Flying Service INC
The flight
- Departed from: CVX Charlevoix MI at 6:32 pm
- Destination: 6Y8 Beaver Island MI
- Runway 17/3, 3,500 ft by 140 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 11 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.73 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from KSJX, 3 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KSJX 131855Z AUTO 32011G20KT 10SM SCT020 SCT030 SCT038 04/00 A2973 RMK AO2 T00410001
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 10 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – Front view of airplane at accident site (NTSB photo)
Photo 2 – Right -front view of airplane at accident site (NTSB photo)
Photo 3 – Left view of airplane at accident site (NTSB photo)
Photo 4 – Rear view of airplane at accident site (NTSB photo)
Photo 5 – Right-rear view of airplane at accident site (NTSB photo)
Photo 6 – Right side view of airplane at accident site (NTSB photo)
Photo 7 – Propellers during examination in hangar (NTSB photo)
Photo 8 – Airplane during examination in hangar (NTSB photo)
Photo 9 – Left engine during examination (NTSB photo)
Photo 10 – Right engine during examination (NTSB photo)The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
17 documents, released by the NTSB on October 5, 2023. 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N866JA on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Britten-Norman BN-2 54 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Britten-Norman 51 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4C5 15 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4C5 15 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Welke Airport · nearest airport
- Charlevoix Municipal · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Michigan 2,107 since 1982 · 230 in the last ten years
- Michigan 7,226 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN22FA031.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.