Beech D18S accident near Mt Pleasant, Michigan, September 9, 1994
On September 9, 1994 at about 9:25 pm local time, a Beech D18S, registered N666S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mt Pleasant, Michigan. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the improper fuel selector position by the pilot-in-command which resulted in fuel starvation. A factor was rough/uneven terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 1994 · about 9:25 pm local time
- Place
- Mt Pleasant, Michigan
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech D18S · all D18Ss on the register
- Registration
- N666S · no longer on the register · serial A-176
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED A LOSS OF POWER ON BOTH ENGINES. THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND STATED HE ATTEMPTED TO REGAIN POWER, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO AND THEREFORE CONDUCTED A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD. AFTER THE ACCIDENT HE FOUND THAT HE HAD SELECTED THE FUEL SELECTOR IN THE WRONG POSITION AND THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD SUFFERED FUEL STARVATION.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 5,700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,868 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 8, 1994; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ALO Waterloo IA at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 050° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:54 pm from MBS, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.