Beech B33-35 accident near Mishawaka, Indiana, May 11, 1997
On May 11, 1997 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Beech B33-35, registered N12GS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mishawaka, Indiana (Nelund Field). It was a personal 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
Improper flare. A factor associated with the accident was the gusty, crosswind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 1997 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Mishawaka, Indiana · Nelund Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B33-35
- Registration
- N12GS · registry record · serial CD796
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was landing on runway 28 with winds from 210 degrees at 12 knots gusty to 22 knots when the accident occurred. He reported that when approximately 10-15 feet above the runway he heard a momentary 'chirp' of the stall warning horn. He reported the airplane then dropped and the nose gear collapsed.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,416 hours in all; 463 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,101 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 13, 1996; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EKM Elkhart IN
- Destination: 9II2
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 1,700 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 12 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from EKM, 5 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.