# NTSB CHI02LA004: Cessna 172N, N73630, Beaver Island, MI, October 6, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 6, 2001, 14:10 local (18:10 UTC) - Place: Beaver Island, MI - Coordinates: 45.649311, -85.550315 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6493&lon=-85.5503&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Grand Rapids, Michigan-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53624 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA004 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53624/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA004 ## Probable cause The pilot not maintaining directional control of the airplane during landing. The gusty crosswind and the berm were factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - berm (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane departed the right side of runway 35 and struck a berm while landing. In a written statement, the pilot said that a, "... sudden unexpected wind gust pushed and lifted [his] aircraft off runway 36. [The] aircraft came back down on the muddy edge, with the nose pointed northeast. Attempts to direct aircraft back towards the runway produced a skid, allowing the aircraft to continue in a northeasterly direction. Upon seeing the berm directly in front of the aircraft, I pulled back hard on the [yoke] and [applied] full left rudder. The aircraft gear (nose and left wheel) hit the top of the berm; the aircraft turned 180 degrees and came to rest. ... Two previous attempts at landing on 27 with go arounds indicated strong winds with varying direction..." The pilot listed no mechanical malfunction in his report of the accident. A weather reporting station located about 3 miles and 228 degrees from the accident site recorded the winds as 290 degrees at 12 knots gusting to 22 knots. ## Factual narrative On October 6, 2001, at 1410 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N73630, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it departed the right side of runway 35 (3,500 feet by 140 feet, dry turf), and struck a berm at the Welke Airport, Beaver Island, Michigan. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions and was not on a flight plan. The pilot and his two passengers reported no injuries. The flight originated from the Cherry Capital Airport, Traverse City, Michigan, at 1330. In a written statement, the pilot said that a, "... sudden unexpected wind gust pushed and lifted [his] aircraft off runway 36. [The] aircraft came back down on the muddy edge, with the nose pointed northeast. Attempts to direct aircraft back towards the runway produced a skid, allowing the aircraft to continue in a northeasterly direction. Upon seeing the berm directly in front of the aircraft, I pulled back hard on the [yoke] and [applied] full left rudder. The aircraft gear (nose and left wheel) hit the top of the berm; the aircraft turned 180 degrees and came to rest. ... Two previous attempts at landing on 27 with go arounds indicated strong winds with varying direction..." The pilot listed no mechanical malfunction in his report of the accident. A weather reporting station located about 3 miles and 228 degrees from the accident site recorded the winds as 290 degrees at 12 knots gusting to 22 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N73630](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N73630-2004-11-08), registration cancelled 2004-11-08, S/N 17267588, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17267588 - Airframe hours: 2424 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Phillip J. Wyckoff - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 9, 2001, 94 hours before - Departed: TVC, TRAVERSE CITY, MI - Destination: 6Y8, Beaver Island, MI - Airport: 6Y8, Welke, runway 35, 3,500 × 140 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review June 28, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 159 total, 102 in this make and model, 89 as pilot in command, 62 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 12 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,800 ft broken - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: SJX, 3 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20011006027889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011006027889A), Oct 6, 2001: Cessna 172N, St James, MI, No damage. (-23) During landing on runway 35, (3500' x 140' grass), aircraft went off right side of runway, hit dirt embankment, and spun around 180 deg and came to rest… ## Other investigations on N73630 (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 CHI93LA196](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI93LA196), Jun 8, 1993: Cessna 172N (N73630), St. James, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT LANDED TOO LONG ON A WET RUNWAY. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.