Beech 95-BE55 accident near Benton Harbor, Michigan, February 3, 1992
On February 3, 1992 at about 4:40 pm local time, a Beech 95-BE55, registered N1123B, was destroyed in an accident near Benton Harbor, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
UNDETERMINED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 3, 1992 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Benton Harbor, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 95-BE55 · all 95-BE55s on the register
- Registration
- N1123B · registry record · serial TC-874
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING VECTORED FOR THE BACK COURSE LOCALIZER APPROACH TO RUNWAY 09 AT BENTON HARBOR, MICHIGAN, WHEN RADAR CONTACT AND COMMUNICATION WAS LOST. THIS APPROACH IS ENTIRELY OVER THE WATERS OF LAKE MICHIGAN. DURING SEARCH OPERATIONS A COAST GUARD HELICOPTER FOUND AN OIL SHEEN AND THREE AIRCRAFT TIRES WITH PORTIONS OF THE LANDING GEAR ATTACHED TO THEM ALONG THE LOCALIZER TRACK. FURTHER SEARCH EFFORTS FAILED TO PRODUCE ANY ADDITIONAL WRECKAGE OR HUMAN REMAINS. ONE MONTH AND ELEVEN DAYS AFTER THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE AIRCRAFT, A BODY WHICH WAS POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED AS THAT OF THE PASSENGER ABOARD THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND WASHED UP ON THE SHORE. EIGHT DAYS AFTER THE DISCOVERY OF THE PASSENGERS REMAINS, A BODY POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED AS THAT OF THE PILOT WAS ALSO FOUND WASHED UP ON THE SHORE OF THE LAKE. AUTOPSY REVEALED THE CAUSE OF DEATH IN BOTH CASES WAS DROWNING. THE AIRCRAFT IS STILL MISSING.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,100 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 5,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C20 Berrien Springs MI at 4:19 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:52 pm from BEH, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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 CHI92FAMS1.