Beech C-45H accident near Marshall, Michigan, July 14, 1996
On July 14, 1996 at about 4:50 pm local time, a Beech C-45H, registered N9772Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marshall, Michigan (Brooks Field). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 11 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
failure of the pilot to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in an inadvertent ground swerve. The crosswind (quartering headwind) was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 1996 · about 4:50 pm local time
- Place
- Marshall, Michigan · Brooks Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 11 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C-45H · all C-45Hs on the register
- Registration
- N9772Z · registry record · serial AF-575
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the winds were from 260 degrees at 10 knots. During the takeoff roll on runway 28, at about 60 miles per hour, he 'began to bring the tail up for a wheel takeoff.... The airplane began to veer to the left.' He 'attempted to get the airplane straight with right rudder and right brake. The airplane ran off of the runway and ground looped on top of a hill.' The airplane sustained substantial damage to the aft fuselage and empennage. Examination of skid marks on the runway revealed that the right side skid mark was 'more pronounced' than the left side skid mark. No evidence of flight control or brake malfunction was discovered.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,249 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 92 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 1,075 as pilot in command; 218 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,295 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 20, 1996; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-985-14B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5D8
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 10 |
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.