- Date
- September 17, 1989, 11:35 local (15:35 UTC)
- Place
- Frankenmuth, MI
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N23666Cessna C172R
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 23, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 14415
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 control of the aircraft during takeoff as a result of a diversion of attention due to a possible engine problem.
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
Pilot attempted a short field takeoff and became airborne at approximately 50-55 mph. Immediately after takeoff, passenger said that engine didn't sound right. As the pilot was scanning the engine instruments, aircraft began to roll to the left. Pilot lowered nose to gain airspeed and left wing struck ground. Engine was examined no mechanical malfunction found.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N23666
- Reported as
- Cessna C172R
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- R172-0201
- Airframe hours
- 4,813
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A1A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public aircraft · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Civil Air Patrol
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 16, 1989 · 99 hours before
- Destination
- YIP · Detroit, MI
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- 66G · Frankenmuth, runway 27, 2,500 × 100 ft, grass/turf
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
- 40
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,132 total · 195 in this make and model · 2,747 as pilot in command · 41 in the last 90 days · 19 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MBS, 10 nm away