# NTSB CHI89LA186: Cessna 172, N736HC, Ypsilanti, MI, September 17, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 17, 1989, 17:04 local (21:04 UTC)
- Place: Ypsilanti, MI
- Coordinates: 42.23978, -83.620239 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2398&lon=-83.6202&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 24, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14416
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI89LA186
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14416/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI89LA186

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PLT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL. RAIN SOFTENED TERRAIN ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY SURFACE IS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, takeoff - aborted
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND NOSED OVER IN RAIN SOFTENED SOD WHILE ATTEMPTING A TAKEOFF. THE PLT RELATED THAT IT WAS HIS IMPRESSION THAT HE DID NOT HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE LATTER PORTION OF HIS TAKEOFF ROLL AND HE DECIDED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF BECAUSE HE COULD NOT MAINTAIN HIS DESIRED TRACK DOWN THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE THEN LEFT THE RUNWAY AND NOSED OVER. HE ALSO SAID THAT A POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED NO MECHANICAL DEFECTS IN THE AIRPLANE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N736HC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N736HC-1991-05-03), registration cancelled 1991-05-03, S/N R1722531 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna R172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r172k) (registry code 2072431) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: R1722531
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-360-K 195 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Robert Evans
- Registered owner: Unknown
- Airport: YPI, Willow Run, runway 5R, 7,526 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 298 total, 123 in this make and model, 242 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: YIP

## 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 19890917035459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890917035459A), Sep 17, 1989: Cessna R172K, Detroit, MI, Substantial damage. Unable to maintain runway alignment on takeoff roll. Aborted ran off runway into soft ground and nosed over.

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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