# NTSB CHI94LA171: Cessna 172N, N3558E, Mackinac Island, MI, May 24, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 24, 1994, 11:25 local (15:25 UTC) - Place: Mackinac Island, MI - Coordinates: 45.850067, -84.620933 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8501&lon=-84.6209&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 7, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9540 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA171 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9540/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA171 ## Probable cause EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED AND A FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT ON THE RUNWAY. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE WET RUNWAY AND THE FENCE WHICH WAS CONTACTED. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wet (contributing factor) - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (cause) - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - fence (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT AFTER DISCOVERING HE HAD FORGOTTEN HIS APPROACH PLATES. THE PILOT MADE A FAST APPROACH AND LANDED LONG SO AN AIRPLANE BEHIND HIM COULD LAND. THE AIRPLANE TRAVELED OFF THE END OF THE WET RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A FENCE. ## Factual narrative On May 24, 1994, at 1125 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N3558E, operated by Vandenburg Air Service, Greenville, Michigan, and flown by a commercial instrument rated pilot overran the runway and collided with a fence while landing at the Mackinac Island Airport, Mackinac Island, Michigan, while on a personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot and three passengers were not injured. The flight originated from Mackinac Island, on May 24, 1994, at 1110 edt. The pilot reported that shortly after taking off from Mackinac Island, he realized he had left his instrument approach plates at the airport so he elected to return. He reported that while in the traffic pattern, another airplane reported entering a crosswind behind him. He stated he made a fast approach and landed long in an attempt to clear the runway so the airplane behind him could land. The pilot reported that the runway was wet from recent rain and he was unable to stop prior to exiting the end of the runway. The airplane was substantially damaged when it contacted a fence approximately 10 feet off the end of the runway. The landing was made on runway 26 (3,501' x 75') and the winds were reported as being from 060 degrees at 3 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3558E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3558E), registered now, S/N 17271586, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17271586 - Airframe hours: 3525 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Vandenburg Air Service - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 28, 1994, 20 hours before - Destination: 6D6, GREENVILLE, MI - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: Y84, Ackinac Island, runway 26, 3,501 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,885 total, 200 in this make and model, 1,685 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: Y84 ## 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 19940524012279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940524012279A), May 24, 1994: Cessna 172N, Mackinac Island, MI, Substantial damage. Landed on last third of runway. Unable to stop. Ran off end runway into a fence. ## Other investigations on N3558E (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 CHI99LA245](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA245), Jul 20, 1999: Cessna 172N (N3558E), Greenville, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: the student pilot's inadequate use of the rudder which resulted in a loss of directional control during an aborted landing. A factor associated with the accident was the student's lack of total… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.