- Date
- May 20, 1997, 17:10 local (21:10 UTC)
- Place
- Flushing, MI
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N8811ZCessna 172
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 7, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970520046099A
- Case key
- 10570
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
was the pilot not maintaining sufficient altitude to clear obstructions. A factor associated with the accident was the pilot was inattentive to the airplane's altitude.
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
Witnesses observed the airplane flying on an easterly heading when it began a turn to the north. As the airplane was turning, it lost altitude and collided with trees, small vegetation, and the ground. The pilot told the State Police he did not think that his altitude was low enough to strike the trees. The on-scene investigation revealed no mechanical anomalies with the airplane or engine that would prevent flight. The pilot did not respond to calls or requests for submission of an accident report from the IIC.
Factual narrative
On May 20, 1997, at 1710 eastern daylight time (edt), a Cessna 172, N8811Z, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed during a collision with trees, small vegetation, and terrain, while on a landing approach to runway 27 (1,850' X 150' dry sod) at the Flushing-Daltons Airport, Flushing, Michigan. The flight was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot reported minor injuries. The flight departed Flint, Michigan, at 1645 edt.
Witnesses said they saw the airplane flying on an easterly heading when it began a turn to the north. They said the airplane lost altitude during its turn to the north. According to the State of Michigan airplane accident report, the pilot said he "...did not see the tree line and struck the trees... ." The report continues, "[The pilot] did not think his altitude was too low... ."
The on-scene investigation revealed no mechanical anomalies with the airplane's engine, airframe, or flight control system that would prevent flight. The pilot reportedly confirmed this according to the Federal Aviation Administration Principal Maintenance Inspector's report.
The pilot was sent two NTSB 6120.1/2, Pilot Operator Accident Report Form, and has not returned either one. He has not responded to telephone calls from the NTSB investigator-in-charge to discuss the events surrounding the accident.
Information received from the pilot's airplane insurance company showed he had a total time of 774.5 hours on July 31, 1996. The insurance company broker said the pilot had 695 hours in Cessna 172 airplanes.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8811Z
- Reported as
- Cessna 172
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17255461
- Airframe hours
- 1,100
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Donald M. Snyder
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 14, 1997 · 1 hours before
- Departed
- FNT · Flint, MI
- Destination
- 3DA
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
- 76
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 775 total · 695 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 12 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 9,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 54 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FNT, 10 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.