Probable cause
The pilot's failure to adequately compensate for the gusting wind conditions during landing. Contributing to the accident were the gusting winds.
NTSB analysis
The pilot was attempting to land on runway 27 when the accident occurred. Shortly after touchdown the airplane ballooned when it encountered a wind gust. The airplane yawed to the right and impacted the ground as the pilot attempted to recover. The nose and left main landing gear collapsed during the subsequent collision with terrain. The local area winds were out of the west at 8 knots, gusting to 18 knots.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN09CA006 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Oct 9, 2008
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Chesaning, Michigan
- Nearest airport
- Howard Nixon Memorial Airport (K50G)
- Highest injury
- Minor
- Minor injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Beech 23
- N-number
- N317NF
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.