Cessna 404 accident near Marquette, Michigan, May 1, 1986
On May 1, 1986 at about 3:31 pm local time, a Cessna 404, registered N313R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marquette, Michigan (Marquette airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91, subpart F). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. 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
- May 1, 1986 · about 3:31 pm local time
- Place
- Marquette, Michigan · Marquette · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 404 · all 404s on the register
- Registration
- N313R · registry record · serial 4040682
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91, subpart F)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS LANDED ON SNOW COVERED RWY 26 WITH WINDS FROM 300 DEGS AT 20 KTS GUSTING TO 30 KTS. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE ACFT WAS LOST DURING THE FIRST THIRD OF THE LANDING ROLL AND IT TRAVELED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY. THE ACFT ENTERED SOFT TERRAIN AND THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,087 hours in all; 2,734 in this make and model; 265 in the last 90 days; 2,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,791 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 6,500 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTSIO-520-M (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Northern Air Service
The flight
- Departed from: IMT Iron Mountain MI at 2:58 pm
- Destination: MQT Marquette MI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 26, 6,500 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft; not recorded at 500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:31 pm from MQT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.