Cessna 175 accident near Muskegon, Michigan, August 23, 1986
On August 23, 1986 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 175, registered N9275B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Muskegon, Michigan (Northside Muskegon airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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 23, 1986 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Muskegon, Michigan · Northside Muskegon
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 175 · all 175s on the register
- Registration
- N9275B · no longer on the register · serial 17555075
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
JUST PRIOR TO APPLYING TAKEOFF POWER THE PILOT SWITCHED TO THE LEFT FUEL TANK. FUEL FROM THIS TANK HAD NEVER BEEN USED BY THIS PILOT SINCE HE PURCHASED THE AIRCRAFT TWO WEEKS EARLIER. SHORTLY AFTER BREAKING GROUND THE ENGINE QUIT. ALTHOUGH THE PILOT SWITCHED BACK TO THE RIGHT TANK, THE ENGINE DID NOT RECOVER BEFORE AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE. DURING THE EMERGENCY LANDING THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER ON ITS BACK. THE AIRCRAFT HAD LAST BEEN INSPECTED EIGHTEEN MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT'S STUDENT CERTIFICATE HAD EXPIRED ON AUGUST 31, 1985.
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: student
- Flight time: 303 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 290 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,421 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 26, 1985; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental GO-300A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 2,400 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 8 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N9275B the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.