Piper PA-30B accident near Charlevoix, Michigan, April 20, 1990
On April 20, 1990 at about 6:48 pm local time, a Piper PA-30B, registered N8333Y, was destroyed in an accident near Charlevoix, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PROBABLE CAUSE OF THIS ACCIDENT IS UNDETERMINED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 20, 1990 · about 6:48 pm local time
- Place
- Charlevoix, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-30B · all PA-30Bs on the register
- Registration
- N8333Y · no longer on the register · serial 30-1478
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AIRCRAFT DEPARTED CHARLEVOIX, MICHIGAN, WITH AN INTENDED DESTINATION OF BEAVER ISLAND, MICHIGAN. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS OVERDUE AT ITS INTENDED DESTINATION, THE COAST GUARD WAS NOTIFIED, AND AN AIR AND SURFACE SEARCH OF LAKE MICHIGAN WAS INITIATED ALONG THE INTENDED FLIGHT PATH. THE COAST GUARD LOCATED A DEBRIS FIELD CONTAINING AIRCRAFT PARTS, PERSONAL EFFECTS, AND A FEMALE BODY. THE BODY OF THE PILOT, AND THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE WAS NOT RECOVERED. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE TIME WERE MARGINAL VMC OVER THE MICHIGAN LAND MASS, AND IMC OVER THE LAKE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 27,870 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CVX Charlevoix MI at 6:45 pm
- Destination: 6Y8 St. James MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,300 ft; not recorded at 1,300 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from PLN, 24 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.
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.