Cessna 441 accident near Flint, Michigan, July 1, 1994
On July 1, 1994 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cessna 441, registered N815MC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Flint, Michigan (Bishop International airport). It was a business 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
AN INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE BY THE PILOT. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ACCIDENT WERE UNLATCHED NOSE CARGO DOORS AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO EXTEND THE LANDING GEAR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 1994 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Flint, Michigan · Bishop International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 441 · all 441s on the register
- Registration
- N815MC · registry record · serial 441-0263
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THE AIRPLANE'S NOSE BAGGAGE DOORS OPENED SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF. HE SAID HE RETARDED THE POWER LEVERS AND LANDED THE AIRPLANE GEAR UP. A WITNESS SAID THE LANDING GEAR WAS RETRACTED AS SOON AS THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF THE RUNWAY. THE WITNESS OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE'S NOSE BAGGAGE DOORS OPEN SHORTLY AFTER LIFT OFF.
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; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,150 hours in all; 550 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 9,850 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TPE331-10 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: GRR Grand Rapids MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 7,200 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 6:00 pm from FNT, 1 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.