Atr ATR 42-300 accident near Muskegon, Michigan, September 14, 1991
On September 14, 1991 at about 10:05 pm local time, a Atr ATR 42-300, registered N243AT, was involved in an accident near Muskegon, Michigan (Muskegon County airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 25 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE, FOR REASONS UNKNOWN, OF THE NUMBER FOUR BEARING IN THE HIGH PRESSURE SPOOL OF THE ENGINE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 14, 1991 · about 10:05 pm local time
- Place
- Muskegon, Michigan · Muskegon County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 25 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Atr ATR 42-300
- Registration
- N243AT · registry record · serial 243
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING CRUISE FLIGHT SMOKE ENTERED THE CABIN AND COCKPIT. THE CREW MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT COMMANDED AN EVACUATION, ON THE CAPTAIN'S ORDER, THROUGH THE REAR EXITS OF THE AIRCRAFT. ONE PASSENGER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES (A BROKEN ANKLE) DURING THE EVACUATION. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED A FAILED BEARING IN THE LEFT ENGINE. A SHAFT SHIFTED AND ALLOWED THE DESTRUCTION OF AN OIL SEAL. OIL ENTERED THE CABIN AIR SYSTEM AND WAS EMITTED IN TO THE CABIN AND COCKPIT AS SMOKE.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,346 hours in all; 700 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 36,870 lb
- Seats: 49
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W PW120 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Simmons Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: TVC Traverse City MI at 9:25 pm
- Destination: ORD Chicago IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 6, 6,501 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 130° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 14,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 9:50 pm from MKG, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 22 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI91LA300.