Beech 99 and Diamond DA20 accident near Belleville, Michigan, September 10, 2026
On September 10, 2026 at about 7:45 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Beech 99 (N799CZ) and Diamond DA20 (N84VV), were involved in the same accident near Belleville, Michigan (Willow Run airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 10, 2026 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Belleville, Michigan · Willow Run · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Beech 99, built 1969 · all 99s on the register
- Registration
- N799CZ · registry record · serial U-68
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Business flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
- Aircraft 2
- Diamond DA20
- Registration
- N84VV · registry record
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Beech 99 preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On September 10, 2026, about 1545 eastern daylight time, a Beech 99 airplane, N799CZ, and a Diamond DA20 airplane, N84VV were involved in a ground collision accident at the Willow Run Airport, Belleville, Michigan. N799CZ received minor damage and N84VV received substantial damage. There were no injuries to either the pilot of N799CZ, or the student pilot and flight instructor on-board N84VV. N799CZ was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135 cargo flight, and N84VV was operated as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. The pilot of N799CZ reported that after starting the airplane’s engines, he set the parking brake and then turned around to turn on the airplane’s oxygen bottle which was located behind his seat. While turned he noticed what he thought was a loose cargo strap but discovered that the strap was not loose. When he turned back around the airplane had moved and the propellers began striking the tail of the other airplane. He stopped and shut down the airplane. Both the flight instructor and student pilot of N84VV reported that they had completed their preflight inspection of N84VV and had started the airplane’s engine and were stationary. As they were preparing to taxi, they felt the airplane getting struck by N799CZ. They noted that they did not see N799CZ from the cockpit before the collision. Following the collision, they shut down the airplane and deplaned. N84VV received substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer, left elevator, vertical stabilizer, rudder, left wing flap and left wing aileron.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Diamond DA20 preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On September 10, 2026, about 1545 eastern daylight time, a Beech 99 airplane, N799CZ, and a Diamond DA20 airplane, N84VV were involved in a ground collision accident at the Willow Run Airport, Belleville, Michigan. N799CZ received minor damage and N84VV received substantial damage. There were no injuries to either the pilot of N799CZ, or the student pilot and flight instructor on-board N84VV. N799CZ was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135 cargo flight, and N84VV was operated as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. The pilot of N799CZ reported that after starting the airplane’s engines, he set the parking brake and then turned around to turn on the airplane’s oxygen bottle which was located behind his seat. While turned he noticed what he thought was a loose cargo strap but discovered that the strap was not loose. When he turned back around the airplane had moved and the propellers began striking the tail of the other airplane. He stopped and shut down the airplane. Both the flight instructor and student pilot of N84VV reported that they had completed their preflight inspection of N84VV and had started the airplane’s engine and were stationary. As they were preparing to taxi, they felt the airplane getting struck by N799CZ. They noted that they did not see N799CZ from the cockpit before the collision. Following the collision, they shut down the airplane and deplaned. N84VV received substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer, left elevator, vertical stabilizer, rudder, left wing flap and left wing aileron.
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 for the Beech 99 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during standing (engine(s) operating) defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 37,879 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, September 4, 2026
- Maximum gross weight: 10,900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Operator: Freight Runners Express, Inc.
The flight
- Destination: MCI Kansas City MO
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observation at 4:00 pm from KYIP
Weather report (METAR): METAR KYIP 101953Z 28009KT 10SM CLR 26/14 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP147 T02560144
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Diamond DA20 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during standing (engine(s) operating) defining event
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Crosswinds Aviation
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N799CZ the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 CEN26LA316.