NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On November 12, 1999, at 2015 eastern standard time (est), a Cessna 175, N6533E, piloted by a private pilot, was reported missing by a representative of the pilot's family. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 and was not on a flight plan. The pilot has been presumed to be fatally injured. The flight departed Iron County Airport, Crystal Falls, Michigan, at 1515 est and had the intended destination of Cherry Capital Airport, Traverse City, Michigan.

According to the pilot's relatives, the pilot's typical route of flight was to fly to Cherry Capital Airport, Traverse City, Michigan, refuel the airplane, and continue to his final destination of Oakland/Troy Airport, Troy, Michigan. There were no reports of the aircraft arriving and/or departing from Cherry Capital Airport and Oakland/Troy Airport.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the pilot was a holder of a private pilot certificate with an airplane single engine land rating. FAA records indicated that the pilot received a pilot medical examination on March 19, 1999, and was issued a third class medical certificate with the limitation, "Shall have available glasses for near vision". At the time of the pilot's last medical examination, the pilot reported a total flight time of 1,500 hours, and 35 hours were flown during the last six months.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The aircraft was a Cessna 175, N6533E, serial number 56033. The Cessna 175 is a production built, single strutted high-wing, all-metal constructed airplane. The Cessna 175 has a fixed tricycle landing gear and can accommodate a pilot and three passengers.

According to FAA records, the FAA issued a Standard Airworthiness Certificate for the airplane on April 23, 1959. The airplane was registered to the pilot on July 15, 1996.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

Weather stations that were in proximity to the proposed route of flight reported the following meteorological conditions:

Ford Airport (Iron Mountain, Michigan)

Observation Time: 1454 est Wind: 290-degrees at 6 knots Visibility: 10 statute miles Sky Condition: Sky Clear Temperature: 10-degrees centigrade Dew Point Temperature: 3-degrees centigrade Pressure: 30.05 inches of mercury

Delta County Airport (Escanaba, Michigan)

Observation Time: 1555 est Wind: 170-degrees at 7 knots Visibility: 10 statute miles Sky Condition: Sky Clear Temperature: 8-degrees centigrade Dew Point Temperature: 4-degrees centigrade Pressure: 30.07 inches of mercury

Menominee-Marinette Twin County Airport (Menominee, Michigan)

Observation Time: 1555 est Wind: 250-degrees at 4 knots Visibility: 8 statute miles Sky Condition: Sky Clear Temperature: 10-degrees centigrade Dew Point Temperature: 3-degrees centigrade Pressure: 30.08 inches of mercury

Cherry Capital Airport (Traverse City, Michigan)

Observation Time: 1653 est Wind: 290-degrees at 4 knots Visibility: 3 statute miles with mist Sky Condition: 1,000 feet above ground level (agl) overcast Temperature: 7-degrees centigrade Dew Point Temperature: 5-degrees centigrade Pressure: 30.08 inches of mercury

Antrim County Airport (Bellaire, Michigan)

Observation Time: 1655 est Wind: 290-degrees at 3 knots Visibility: 5 statute miles with haze Sky Condition: 1,400 feet agl overcast Temperature: 6-degrees centigrade Dew Point Temperature: 3-degrees centigrade Pressure: 30.08 inches of mercury

Otsego County Airport (Gaylord, Michigan)

Observation Time: 1653 est Wind: 280-degrees at 8 knots Visibility: 5 statute miles with mist Sky Condition: 700 feet agl overcast Temperature: 5-degrees centigrade Dew Point Temperature: 3-degrees centigrade Pressure: 30.07 inches of mercury

Manistee County-Blacker Airport (Manistee, Michigan)

Observation Time: 1655 est Wind: 260-degrees at 5 knots Visibility: 3 statute miles Sky Condition: 700 feet agl overcast Temperature: 7-degrees centigrade Dew Point Temperature: 4-degrees centigrade Pressure: 30.07 inches of mercury

COMMUNICATIONS

According to FAA records and reports, no communications were received or transmitted to a Cessna 175, N6533E.

SURVIVAL ASPECTS

The United States Coast Guard, and Civil Air Patrol were notified and commenced search and rescue missions on November 13, 1999. Search and rescue operations were unsuccessful, and were terminated on November 30, 1999. As of the writing of this factual report, the aircraft has not been located. See attached United States Coast Guard and Civil Air Patrol search and rescue reports.

TESTS AND RESEARCH

Aircraft radar track data was requested from the FAA and United States Air Force (USAF) 84th Radar Evaluation Squadron. FAA and USAF aircraft radar track data showed a primary-return track crossing Lake Michigan commencing around 1600 and terminating at 1700. The last radar primary-returns were located near Gaylord, Michigan. See attached plots.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

A party to this investigation was the Federal Aviation Administration Flight Standards District Office, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

NTSB Probable Cause

undetermined.