Beech TC-45J accident near St Clair Shores, Michigan, November 19, 1987
On November 19, 1987 at about 10:25 pm local time, a Beech TC-45J, registered N10AS, was destroyed in an accident near St Clair Shores, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- November 19, 1987 · about 10:25 pm local time
- Place
- St Clair Shores, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech TC-45J · all TC-45Js on the register
- Registration
- N10AS · registry record · serial 39904
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ENROUTE TO HOME BASE AFTER DELIVERY OF REVENUE CARGO, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER IN BOTH ENGINES DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PILOT PERFORMED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND SET THE AIRCRAFT UP FOR A FORCED LANDING IN A GRASSY FIELD ON THE EDGE OF A LAKE. THE AIRCRAFT INITIALLY IMPACTED A TREE AND THE ROCKY BERM OF THE SHORELINE. THE CONTACT WITH THE BERM CAUSED THE LANDING GEAR TO BREAK OFF, THE AIRCRAFT SWERVED AROUND AND SKIDDED BACKWARDS BEFORE COMING TO A REST ABOUT 150 FEET FROM THE LAKESHORE. POST ACC INVEST REVEALED LESS THAN 2 GALLONS OF FUEL IN EACH WING TANK.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,080 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 2,100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15,800 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, November 9, 1987; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 11,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TPE-331-1-101 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EWR Newark NJ at 7:45 pm
- Destination: DET Detroit MI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 240° at 18 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:48 pm from DTW, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.