Socata TB-20 Trinidad accident near Cheboygan, Michigan, August 24, 2007
On August 24, 2007 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Socata TB-20 Trinidad, registered N96DF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cheboygan, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Undetermined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 24, 2007 · about 5:30 pm local time · cases in 2007
- Place
- Cheboygan, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Socata TB-20 Trinidad · all TB-20 Trinidads on the register
- Registration
- N96DF · registry record · serial 1059
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The instrument rated private pilot departed from an island based airport on a visual flight rules (VFR) cross country flight to see the coastline and scenery. Known low clouds and marginal VFR conditions prevailed at the time of departure. The pilot was found in the straits near the island and some airplane parts washed up on a mainland shore. The airplane and passenger have not been found to date.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 492 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,705 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 3,086 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-C4D5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MCD Mackinac Island MI at 5:30 pm
- Destination: BAX Bad Axe MI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,100 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 5:17 pm from MCD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N96DF on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Daher (Socata) TB-20 200 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-C4D5D 31 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Mackinac Island Airport · departed from
- Huron County Memorial · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Michigan 2,107 since 1982 · 230 in the last ten years
- Michigan 7,224 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CHI07FA279.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.