- Date
- July 1, 2003, 20:02 local (Jul 2, 2003, 00:02 UTC)
- Place
- Roscommon, MI
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N172DECessna 172M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 2, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA-Grand Rapids FSDO
- FAA report
- 20030701015029A
- Case key
- 57392
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during a water landing. A factor contributing to the accident was the rough water.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane nosed over while landing on water. The pilot reported the pontoon of the airplane hit a wave or a wake while landing. The pilot noted the airplane bounced and came to rest inverted.
Factual narrative
On July 1, 2003, at 2002 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N172DE, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over while landing on Higgins Lake, Roscommon, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot reported minor injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The flight originated from Higgins Lake at 1940 with an intended destination of Fife Lake, Michigan.
The pilot reported he performed a normal approach and touchdown to the lake. The pilot noted the pontoon of the airplane hit a wave or a wake while landing. The pilot stated the airplane bounced and came to rest inverted.
The pilot reported no mechanical functions or defects with the airplane during the accident flight.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N172DE
- Reported as
- Cessna 172M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17265200
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Air Lakewood LTD
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 1, 2003
- Departed
- Roscommon, MI
- Destination
- Fife Lake, MI
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 71
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- October 1, 2001
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 466 total · 434 in this make and model · 397 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.01 inHg
- Observed at
- HTL, 8 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.