Cessna 320D accident near Wixom, Michigan, May 1, 1989
On May 1, 1989 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 320D, registered N132BC, was destroyed in an accident near Wixom, Michigan. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT'S INATTENTION TO THE FUEL SYSTEM DURING PREFLIGHT AND INADEQUATE FUEL SYSTEM MONITORING THROUGHOUT THE FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 1, 1989 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wixom, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 320D · all 320Ds on the register
- Registration
- N132BC · registry record · serial 320D-0130
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE MANEUVERING FOR PURPOSES OF AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY, BOTH ENGINES ON THE CESSNA 320D FAILED DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND WAS VECTORED TOWARD THE NEAREST AIRPORT. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE AIRPORT, AND EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING IN A WOODED AREA APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE SOUTHEAST OF IT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD FORGOTTEN TO CHECK THE FUEL QUANTITY DURING THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION.
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: 3,275 hours in all; 2,110 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 3,010 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,778 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 2, 1988; 95 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PTK Pontiac MI at 4:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:45 pm from PTK, 11 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.
Other NTSB records under N132BC 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.