Cessna 441 accident near Norton Shores, Michigan, July 16, 1986
On July 16, 1986 at about 4:38 pm local time, a Cessna 441, registered N6857E, was destroyed in an accident near Norton Shores, Michigan (Muskegan County airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed and 3 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
- July 16, 1986 · about 4:38 pm local time
- Place
- Norton Shores, Michigan · Muskegan County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed and 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 441 · all 441s on the register
- Registration
- N6857E · no longer on the register · serial 441-0244
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
N6857E WAS TRANSPORTING EXECUTIVES FROM HOLLAND, MI, TO MUSKEGON. THE PILOT WAS EXECUTING AN ASR APPROACH TO RUNWAY 06. THE MDA IS 537 FT AGL. CO-PILOT CALLED OUT 1200 FEET THEN BELOW 1000 FEET, PILOT CONTINUED APPROACH. AIRCRAFT STRUCK TREES TWO MILES FROM RUNWAY AT 15 FEET AGL. THE APPROACH WAS CONDUCTED IN HEAVY FOG CONDITIONS. THE PILOT HAD DESCENDED BELOW APPROACH MINIMUMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IN THE PAST.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 23,298 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,060 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 9, 1986; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,850 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TPE331-8-403S (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C19 Holland MI at 4:24 pm
- Destination: MKG Muskegan MI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 6, 6,501 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,100 ft; not recorded at 1,100 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:36 pm from MKG, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 | ||
| Passengers | 2 | 2 |
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.