NTSB Identification: CHI90DEM08 For details, refer to NTSB microfiche number 42302A
Accident occurred AUG-06-90 at HOLLAND, MI
Aircraft: CESSNA 150L, registration: N741MF
Injuries: 2 Fatal.
THE PLT & PSGR DEPD ON A LOCAL FLT AT NIGHT IN CLEAR WX CONDS. AFTER ABOUT 15 MIN
OF FLT, THE ACFT CRASHED IN LAKE MICHIGAN, ABOUT 1 MI FROM THE SHORELINE. A WITNESS SAID
HE SAW THE LIGHTS OF AN ACFT FLYING AT LOW ALT IN THAT AREA, WHICH HAD DISAPPEARED FROM
HIS VIEW. ABOUT 2 DAYS LATER, WRECKAGE OF THE ACFT WAS FOUND IN ABOUT 50' OF WATER. THE
PSGR WAS STILL STRAPPED IN THE ACFT. THE PLT'S BODY WAS FOUND ON 8/18/90 AFTER IT HAD
WASHED ONTO THE SHORE. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT WAS FOUND.
THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT BOTH OCCUPANTS HAD DIED FROM DROWNING. TOXICOLOGY CHECKS SHOWED
THE PLT'S BLOOD HAD A CARBOXYHEMOGLOBIN (CARBON MONOXIDE) SATURATION OF 21%, WHILE THE
PSGR'S BLOOD HAD ONLY A 7% SATURATION LEVEL. (SMOKERS CAN BE EXPECTED TO HAVE A SATURATION
LEVEL OF 3% TO 10%.) NO MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE ACFT WAS FOUND THAT WOULD HAVE
RESULTED IN THE ELEVATED LEVEL(S) OF CARBON MONOXIDE.
Probable Cause
UNDETERMINED. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS & IMPAIRMENT OF THE PILOT
DUE TO CARBON MONOXIDE.
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