# NTSB CHI95LA088: Cessna 172, N79569, Holland, MI, February 18, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 18, 1995, 15:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Holland, MI - Coordinates: 42.770835, -86.099388 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7708&lon=-86.0994&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 9, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9838 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA088 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9838/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA088 ## Probable cause delayed remedial action by the flight instructor. Factors in the accident were the student pilot not maintaining directional control once airborne. ## 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 - directional control - not maintained, dual student (contributing factor) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb - terrain condition - snowbank - Occurrence ## Analysis THE INSTRTOR SAID HE HAD DISCUSSED CROSSWIND TAKEOFF TECHNIQUES WITH THE STUDENT BEFORE THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. HE SAID THE STUDENT PILOT BEGAN TO PERFORM A SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF AND CORRECTED FOR A LEFT DRIFT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. ONCE AIRBORNE, THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED TO THE LEFT, ITS LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR TIRE STRUCK A THREE-FOOT HIGH SNOWBANK THAT WAS ON THE RUNWAY EDGE. THE COLLISION PULLED THE AIRPLANE'S NOSE TO THE LEFT, ITS NOSE GEAR TIRE COLLIDED WITH THE SNOWBANK, AND THE AIRPLANE '...FLIPPED ON ITS BACK AND SLID TO A STOP.' THE INSTRUCTOR SAID HE RELAXED TOO MUCH DURING THE TAKEOFF. ## Factual narrative On February 18, 1995, at 1545 eastern standard time (est), a Cessna 172, N79569, registered to Lakeshore Aviators of Holland, Michigan, with a commercially certificated flight instructor acting as pilot-in-command during a dual instructional flight, was substantially damaged when it collided with a snowbank shortly after liftoff from runway 05 (2,999 X 50' dry asphalt) at the Park Township Airport, Holland, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The instructor and student pilot reported no injuries. The flight departed Holland, Michigan, at 1530 est. According to the instructor, the purpose of the flight was to "...practice takeoffs and landings... ." He said the "initial takeoff was to be a soft field with [a] slight crosswind." Before the flight he said he discussed crosswind takeoff techniques with the student. During the takeoff roll he said the "...aircraft moved left due to torque and P-factor with [a] high nose pitch... ." The instructor said the student began to correct for the airplane's left movement. He said, "at lift off [the] nose was lowered but [the] aircraft drifted left." As the airplane drifted left the instructor said its "left main gear hit [a] snow bank at [the] runway edge which pulled [the airplane's] nose left and down." He said the airplane's nose gear hit the snowbank, "...flipped on its back and slid to a stop." The instructor was interviewed and said the student had done six or seven soft field takeoffs during two or three other flight lessons. He said the snowbanks were on the edge of the runway and were about three feet high. He said he relaxed too much during the takeoff that lead to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N79569](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N79569-2013-05-09), registration cancelled 2013-05-09, S/N 17258183, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172-58183 - Airframe hours: 3781 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Lakeshore Aviatiors - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 27, 1994, 62 hours before - Departed: HLM - Destination: HLM, MI - Airport: HLM, Park Township Airport, runway 5, 2,999 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 805 total, 525 in this make and model, 760 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 11 knots - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GRR, 29 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 19950218002149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950218002149A), Feb 18, 1995: Cessna 172K, Holland, MI, Substantial damage. Student attempted quartering downwind takeoff supervised by CFI. Lost control. Struck snowbank. Nosed over. (-23) the student pilot, under the supervision of… 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.