Hughes 300C accident near Whitehall, Michigan, July 4, 1991
On July 4, 1991 at about 3:45 am local time, a Hughes 300C (helicopter), registered N58404, was substantially damaged in an accident near Whitehall, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM THE WATER. A FACTOR WAS THE DARK NIGHT LIGHT CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 1991 · about 3:45 am local time
- Place
- Whitehall, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 300C
- Registration
- N58404 · no longer on the register · serial 1190845
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED HE FLEW ACROSS LAKE MICHIGAN IN DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS. UPON REACHING THE OPPOSITE SHORE, HE ENTERED A DESCENDING, LEFT TURN TOWARD HIS DESTINATION. HE REPORTED HE LOST VISUAL REFERENCE DURING THIS MANEUVER, AND DESCENDED INTO 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: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 300 hours in all; 250 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,210 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 8, 1990; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-01A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Diversified International, INC
The flight
- Departed from: CGX Chicago IL at 2:31 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 170° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 am from MKG, 14 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.