Beech C45H accident near New Hudson, Michigan, January 24, 1995
On January 24, 1995 at about 9:20 pm local time, a Beech C45H, registered N618K, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Hudson, Michigan (New Hudson airport). It was a personal 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 owner/pilot's inadequate maintenance practices which resulted in a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff and the pilot's inadequate emergency procedure after the power loss occurred. Related factors are trees, diminished airspeed and abrupt touchdown.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 24, 1995 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- New Hudson, Michigan · New Hudson · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C45H · all C45Hs on the register
- Registration
- N618K · registry record · serial AF754
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS ABOUT 150 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND OVER A STAND OF TREES, THE LEFT ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOTS MADE A HARD FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD, SKIDDED AND CAME TO A STOP AGAINST A FARM BUILDING. THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED OVER A WOODED AREA. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THE LEFT ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP SHAFT HAD FAILED. AIRPLANE RECORDS INDICATED THE MOST RECENT MAINTENANCE OCCURRED IN NOVEMBER 1991. THE AIRPLANE HAD FLOWN 148 HOURS SINCE THAT DATE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,386 hours in all; 52 in this make and model; 110 in the last 90 days; 59 in the last 30 days; 4,214 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,928 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 13, 1991; 148 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: PHN Port Huron MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,015 ft by 37 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.