Fairchild BC12-D accident near Hessel, Michigan, August 1, 1984
On August 1, 1984 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Fairchild BC12-D, registered N94955, was destroyed in an accident near Hessel, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 1984 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Hessel, Michigan
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Fairchild BC12-D
- Registration
- N94955 · no longer on the register · serial 9355
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACFT DEPARTED IN VFR CONDITIONS FOR SHORT X-COUNTRY FLT. NO WEATHER BRIEFING WAS OBTAINED. ON INITIAL ENCOUNTER WITH DETERIORATING CEILING AND VISIBILITY CONDITIONS, PLT REDUCED ALTITUDE IN ATTEMPT TO MAINTAIN GROUND REFERENCE. COURSE REVERSAL NOT INITIATED UNTIL GROUND REFERENCE LOST. PILOT CITED DISORIENTATION IN TURN AND STALL AS CAUSE OF LOSS OF CONTROL. WX REPORTED AT PELLSTON, MI, (30 MI S), WAS 3 MI VISIBILITY, 800 FT THIN BKN, 4000 FT OVC.
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: 300 hours in all; 200 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,775 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 6, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CIU Sault St. Marie MI at 10:55 pm
- Destination: 83D St.Ignace MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 260° at 5 knots
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 pm from PLN, 30 miles away
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.
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.