# NTSB CHI88FA231: Cessna 172P, N52601, Boyne City, MI, September 4, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 4, 1988, 11:57 local (15:57 UTC)
- Place: Boyne City, MI
- Coordinates: 45.210346, -85.010482 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2103&lon=-85.0105&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 25, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13970
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI88FA231
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13970/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI88FA231

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - maneuver - initiated, pilot in command
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - water

## Analysis

THE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER WERE FLYING LOW OVER A SAILBOAT REGATTA TO PHOTOGRAPH SAILBOATS. AS THE PILOT MANEUVERED FOR A PHOTOGRAPH, HE THROTTLED BACK AND BANKED THE AIRCRAFT IN A STEEP BANK. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO RECOVER. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE WATER IN A LEFT WING LOW, NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AND SANK ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. THE PASSENGER ESCAPED WITH SERIOUS INJURIES. HE TRIED TO HELP THE PILOT, BUT THE PILOT RECEIVED A HEAD INJURY, WHICH WAS FATAL. APRX 23 MI NNE AT PELLSTON, MI, THE 1152 EDT WX WAS IN PART: ESTD 700' OVC, VIS 3 MI WITH LIGHT RAIN SHOWERS & FOG. WINDS IN THE AREA WERE RPRTD TO BE VARIABLE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N52601](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N52601-1991-03-25), registration cancelled 1991-03-25, S/N 17274561 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17274561
- Airframe hours: 1200
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Ayotte Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 5, 1988, 90 hours before
- Departed: D87, HARBOR SPRINGS, MI

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 712 total, 12 in this make and model, 671 as pilot in command, 74 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 10 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 700 ft overcast
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PLN, 23 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 19880904036669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880904036669A), Sep 4, 1988: Cessna 172P, Boyne City, MI, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Stalled and dived into lake while banking steeply low altitude for photos of boat race.

## Other investigations on N52601 (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 ATL86LA180](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL86LA180), Jun 21, 1986: Cessna 172P (N52601), Salisbury, NC, substantial damage

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.

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