Beech BE-58 accident near Niles, Michigan, February 4, 2005
On February 4, 2005 at about 2:20 pm local time, a Beech BE-58, registered N12AZ, was destroyed in an accident near Niles, Michigan. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The steep nose down descent from cruise for undetermined reasons and the subsequent collision with terrain in a steep nose down attitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 4, 2005 · about 2:20 pm local time
- Place
- Niles, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech BE-58
- Registration
- N12AZ · no longer on the register · serial TH-53
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The twin-engine airplane was destroyed when it departed from cruise flight at 7,000 feet mean sea level (msl) in visual meteorological conditions and impacted the terrain in a wooded area. The fight was on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. The airplane departed at 0838 eastern standard time. Radar track data indicated that altitude remained constant at 7,000 feet msl until 0919:42. At 0919:47, the radar data indicated the airplane was at 6,900 feet msl. At 0919:52, the radar data indicated the airplane was at 5,800 feet msl. At 0919:57, the radar data indicated the airplane was at 5,300 feet msl. At 0920:02, the radar data indicated the airplane was at 3,400 feet msl. No further radar contact with the airplane was recorded. The radar track data indicated that the airplane's heading and altitude went almost "straight down." Radar track data indicated the airplane impacted the terrain at about 300 knots true airspeed with about a maximum descent rate of 25,000-feet per minute. The descent angle of the airplane was about 70-80 degrees nose down. The main wreckage was localized at the impact crater. The engines, the cockpit and cabin, both wings, and the empennage were found in the impact crater. The cockpit was fragmented and destroyed by impact forces. Flight control continuity could not be established due to the destructive impact forces. All flight control cable breaks were consistent with overload fractures. The inspection of the airframe revealed no preexisting anomalies. Engine continuity and compression could not be established for the left and right engines due to impact forces. The engine inspections revealed no preexisting anomalies. The pilot had a total of 11,409 flight hours of which 4,589 hours were in multi-engine aircraft. The airplane seated six including the pilot's seat. The cabin was configured in "club" seating with the middle seats, located behind the pilot's seat, facing aft. The airplane was equipped with a "throw-over" control yoke. The medical examiner reported that the pilot was sitting in the left front pilot's seat, and two passengers were sitting in the second row of seats facing aft, and the other passenger was sitting in the third row of seats facing forward. Due to impact forces, the autopsies and toxicological examinations provided limited medical 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
Crew member
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,406 hours in all; 55 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 11,390 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 1, 2005
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,766 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2004; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SBM Sheboygan WI at 1:38 pm
- Destination: I68 Lebanon OH
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.34 inHg
- Observation at 2:20 pm from BEH, 20 miles away
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.