# NTSB CHI90FA040: Cessna 172M, N1326U, Linden, MI, December 9, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 9, 1989, 06:50 local (11:50 UTC)
- Place: Linden, MI
- Coordinates: 42.80941, -83.77993 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8094&lon=-83.7799&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 22, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14517
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI90FA040
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14517/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90FA040

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT SPEED FOR FLIGHT. A FACTOR ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S OPERATION OF THE AIRPLANE ABOVE THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE GROSS WEIGHT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff

## Analysis

THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE HAD JUST TAKEN OFF AND WAS IN INITIAL CLIMB WHEN IT WAS OBSERVED TO PITCH OVER AND DESCEND INTO THE GROUND. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL DEFECTS DISCOVERED IN EITHER THE POWERPLANT OR AIRFRAME. A POST ACCIDENT COMPUTATION OF THE AIRCRAFT WEIGHT SHOWED IT TO BE 2527 POUNDS. THIS IS 227 POUNDS OVER THE 2300 POUNDS ALLOWABLE GROSS WEIGHT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1326U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1326U-1990-08-15), registration cancelled 1990-08-15, S/N 17267014 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172067014
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: 107th Flying Club Inc
- Destination: BWG, BOWLING GREEN, KY
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 458 total, 313 as pilot in command, 77 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn
- Wind: 110° at 1 knots
- Visibility: 14 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 10 °F, dew point 7 °F
- Observed at: FNT

## 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 19891209049489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891209049489A), Dec 9, 1989: Cessna 172M, Linden, MI, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Over gross weight stalled on climbout. Dived into ground in open field.

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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