# Accident 20210129000389A: Cessna 172M, Clare, MI, January 29, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 29, 2021, 16:20 local time
- Place: Clare, MI
- Airport: Clare Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.8344° N, 84.7402° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.8344&lon=-84.7402&mi=10
- Aircraft: N22101, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N22101) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172M (registry code 2072418, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 83 total, 83 in this make and model, 74 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN21LA120](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA120) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210129000389A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON JANUARY 29, 2021 AT APPROXIMATELY 16:20 EST, A CESSNA 172-M, N22101, REGISTERED TO A FLIGHT SCHOOL AND OPERATED BY A STUDENT PILOT FOR A PERSONAL, SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT TOUCHED DOWN ON RUNWAY 22 AND THEN WENT OFF THE LEFT SIDE AND INTO THE SNOW.  UPON THE FRONT NOSE BEING CAUGHT OR STRIKING A SNOW BANK ON THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, THE AIRPLANE FLIPPED OVER FROM FRONT TO BACK, RESTING UPSIDE DOWN.  THERE WAS NO INJURY TO THE PILOT, THE ONLY OCCUPANT OF THE AIRPLANE.

INVESTIGATION OF THE AIRCRAFT FOUND SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING, FRONT OF THE FUSELAGE ENCAPSULATING THE ENGINE, DAMAGED PROPELLER, FRONT GEAR SHEARED OFF, AND DAMAGE TO THE EMPENNAGE.

VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.  THE PRIVATE FLIGHT WAS BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) PART 91 WITH NO VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) FLIGHT PLAN FILED.

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS ON HIS LAST LEG OF THE CROSS-COUNTRY AND PLANNING A STRAIGHT-IN LANDING TO THE RUNWAY WHEN HE HEARD OTHER TRAFFIC AT THE AIRPORT.  HE CIRCLED AND ESTABLISHED HIMSELF ON A FIVE MILE FINAL.  WHEN HE TOUCHED DOWN FOR LANDING, HE WAS LEFT OF THE CENTER OF THE RUNWAY.  PILOT STATED THAT HE DRIFTED TOWARD THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY AND WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP THE DRIFT.  THE LEFT MAIN WHEELS CAUGHT THE SNOW AND THE REST OF THE AIRPLANE FOLLOWED UNTIL THE PLANE FLIPPED OVER. THE AIRPLANE LEFT THE RUNWAY APPROXIMATELY 1,550 FEET FROM THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 22.   PILOT DENIED THAT THERE WAS ANY INDICATION OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.

THERE ARE NO WEATHER SERVICES AVAILABLE AT 48D AIRPORT. THE CLOSEST WEATHER WAS AT MOUNT PLEASANT, MI (KMOP), 14.5 MILES SOUTH OF 48D, WHICH HAD REPORTED WINDS 260 AT 4 KT, 10 MILES VISIBILITY, SKY CLEAR.  TEMPERATURE MINUS 3 CELSIUS, DEW POINT MINUS 12 CELSIUS, AND ALTIMETER 30.35.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN21LA120](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA120), Jan 29, 2021: Cessna 172 (N22101), Clare, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing that resulted in a runway excursion and impact with terrain.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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