At 14:10 EDT, a Cessna 172S sank in Lake Michigan two miles west/southwest of Muskegon. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries from hypothermia. The pilot said ATIS reported a ceiling of 1,400 feet prior to his departure, and he received a special VFR clearance to depart. He flew out over Lake Michigan and the visibility dropped to zero in fog. He requested vectors back to VFR conditions and was trying to return to the airport when the airplane struck the water. The pilot was not instrument rated.
April 15, Muskegon, Mich. / Cessna 172
At 14:10 EDT, a Cessna 172S sank in Lake Michigan two miles west/southwest of Muskegon. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries from hypothermia. The pilot said ATIS reported a ceiling of 1,400 feet prior to his departure, and he received a special VFR clearance to depart. He flew out over Lake Michigan and the visibility dropped to zero in fog. He requested vectors back to VFR conditions and was trying to return to the airport when the airplane struck the water. The pilot was not instrument rated....
Key Takeaways:
- A non-instrument rated pilot crashed a Cessna 172S into Lake Michigan after encountering zero visibility fog.
- The pilot had departed under a special VFR clearance, despite a low reported ceiling, and attempted to return to the airport when visibility deteriorated.
- Both the pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries due to hypothermia.
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