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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Undetermined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 24, 2007 · about 5:30 pm local time
- 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 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 CHI07FA279.