Accident Overview
On June 23, 2023, at about 0844 eastern daylight time, an Avid Magnum airplane, N103DG, was substantially damaged when it impacted the surface of Lake Michigan approximately 3.25 miles northwest of Beaver Island, Michigan. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he was conducting a local sightseeing flight and was maneuvering to view a lighthouse on a remote island when the airplane inadvertently struck the water.
The pilot regained consciousness after the impact, self-extricated from the wreckage, and attempted to free the passenger but was unsuccessful. He then climbed onto a piece of floating wreckage and activated the SOS function of his Garmin inReach satellite communicator. The distress signal was received by the Garmin International Emergency Response Coordination Center and relayed to the U.S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard responded to the SOS at about 0909 and arrived on scene approximately 30 minutes later. The airplane came to rest in about 20 feet of water, with the pilot sitting on a float above the waterline. During the rescue operation, the Coast Guard pilot reported that smoke, haze, calm seas, and no wind made it impossible to distinguish the horizon, resulting in instrument meteorological conditions.
Weather Conditions
First responders at the accident site, about 15 minutes after the event, noted a lack of horizon contrast with smoke, haze, and calm seas. Surface observations from Beaver Island Airport (SJX), about 6 miles southeast, indicated visual flight rules conditions with clear skies, visibility greater than 10 statute miles, and light winds. Upper air soundings showed a stable atmosphere with a surface-based inversion up to 2,000 feet above ground level and no clouds or icing below 10,000 feet. No SIGMETs, AIRMETs, or Center Weather Advisories were active, and no terminal aerodrome forecasts were issued within 30 miles.
However, satellite imagery from GOES-16 revealed cloud cover and obscurations over the accident area with cloud tops near 8,000 feet mean sea level. High-Resolution Rapid Refresh smoke model data indicated wildfire smoke concentrations between 12 and 60 µg/m³ through 6,000 feet above ground level, reducing surface visibility below one mile over much of Lake Michigan. No precipitation returns were observed. The pilot did not request a formal weather briefing and had not retrieved weather data on his ForeFlight account that day.
Wreckage Examination
The wreckage was recovered from Lake Michigan and examined in a hangar on Beaver Island. The fuselage exhibited localized deformation but remained largely intact. Both wings were attached at the roots: the left wing was displaced aft with torn fabric and rib damage, while the right wing was displaced forward with minor strut deformation. The left flaperon was separated and not recovered; the right flaperon showed overload damage. Control continuity was confirmed from the cockpit to all flight controls.
The engine remained attached to the airframe with a fracture near the upper right engine mount. Internal mechanical continuity and compression were confirmed during hand rotation, and the ignition system produced spark on all leads. The carburetor was intact with no fuel or air induction blockages, and the oil filter was free of debris. A borescope inspection of the cylinders revealed no anomalies. The propeller remained attached to the crankshaft flange; one blade was bent forward and partially fractured near the tip, while the other had leading-edge gouges and chordwise scratches consistent with rotation under power at impact.
The floats had separated from the fuselage and were recovered about 250 yards from the main wreckage, showing deformation and fragmentation consistent with impact forces. Overall, the wreckage displayed damage signatures consistent with a nose-low, forward impact with water. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine found no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures.