Cessna 195 accident near Flint, Michigan, October 31, 1990
On October 31, 1990 at about 2:17 pm local time, a Cessna 195, registered N4325N, was destroyed in an accident near Flint, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE FUEL TANK SYSTEM. FACTOR(S) WERE: WATER CONTAMINATION IN THE FUEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 31, 1990 · about 2:17 pm local time
- Place
- Flint, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 195 · all 195s on the register
- Registration
- N4325N · no longer on the register · serial 7084
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE HAD DEPARTED FOR A CROSS COUNTRY PLEASURE FLIGHT WHEN, DURING ITS INITIAL CLIMB, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. WITNESSES STATED THE AIRPLANE WAS BETWEEN 100 AND 200 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AS IT PASSED BY THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. SHORTLY AFTER PASSING THE WITNESSES THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO MAKE A 90 DEGREE LEFT TURN, PITCH DOWN, LEVEL OFF AND THEN 'DROP INTO THE POWERLINES' ACCORDING TO ONE OF THE WITNESSES. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH POWERLINES LOCATED IN A RAILROAD SWITCHING YARD. THE AIRPLANE REMAINED IN CONTACT WITH THESE LINES AS IT COLLIDED WITH A TELEPHONE POLE AND SMALL BUILDING. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS CONTAMINATED WITH WATER.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,672 hours in all; 1,402 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs R755-A2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: SJX St. James MI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 2:25 pm from FNT, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.