Beech 23 accident near Saginaw, Michigan, June 26, 2004
On June 26, 2004 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Beech 23, registered N23342, was substantially damaged in an accident near Saginaw, Michigan (Saginaw H W Browne airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and his inadequate recovery from the bounced landing. The wind gusts and the runway sign were factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 2004 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Saginaw, Michigan · Saginaw H W Browne · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 23 · all 23s on the register
- Registration
- N23342 · no longer on the register · serial M43
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was damaged when it struck a runway sign during landing on runway 27. The pilot reported that while landing, "the plane simply dropped from the sky." He also reported that the airplane bounced and that a gust of wind "caught [him] under the left wing." The airplane subsequently impacted a runway sign and came to rest in the grass adjacent to the runway. The recorded wind was from 270 degrees magnetic at 6 knots gusting to 14 knots.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 186 hours in all; 110 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 16, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KBAX Bad Axe MI at 3:45 pm
- Destination: KHYX Saginaw MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 6 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,700 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 12:35 pm from KHYX
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.