- Date
- July 14, 1984, 16:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place
- Southgate, MI
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N20218Cessna 172M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19840714034269A
- Case key
- 12695
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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
After takeoff, the plt climbed to 8500 ft MSL to practice maneuvers. He then made a descent to 4500 ft & began heading back to the arpt, then continued descending to 1800 ft & entered the tca. The eng lost power aprx 7 miles from the airport. Later, during an interview, the plt stated that he only momentarily used the carburetor heat when he began his descent from 8000 to 1800 ft MSL. During an emergency landing, the plt landed in an area with weeds about 1 ft tall. He was not aware of a ditch that crossed the area until after touchdown. Subsequently, the acft hit the FAR side of the ditch & nosed over. The temp & dew point were 90 & 60 deg. According to icing probability charts, visible icing was possible in float type carburetors.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N20218
- Reported as
- Cessna 172M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 172-61104
- Airframe hours
- 4,786
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- 3a Flying Club
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Unknown · August 2, 1984
- Airport
- DTW · Detroit Metro
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
- 64
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 545 total · 171 in this make and model · 482 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 230° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- DTW, 7 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.