- Date
- August 4, 2018, 17:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place
- Dowagiac, MI
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N8994VCessna 172
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 26, 2019
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20180804006739A
- Case key
- 98003
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
The pilot's failure to maintain bank control during takeoff.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that, during takeoff from a soft-field runway, about 10 ft above the ground, the airplane drifted left. He added that the left wing "dipped" and contacted the ground and that the airplane then impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, right elevator, and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that he should have "stayed longer in ground effect." The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about 20 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 210° at 10 knots and that, about 40 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 190º at 7 knots. The airplane departed from runway 22.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that, during takeoff from a soft field runway, about 10 feet above the ground, the airplane drifted left. The left wing "dipped", contacted the ground and the airplane impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to right wing, right elevator and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot added that he should have "stayed longer in ground effect." The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 20 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 210° at 10 knots and about 40 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 190º at 7 knots. The airplane departed on runway 22.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8994V
- Reported as
- Cessna 172 (M)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17264349
- Built
- 1974
- Airframe hours
- 11,139
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Wings Inc
- Registered owner
- Wings Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 18, 2018
- Departed
- C91 · Dowagiac, MI
- Destination
- SBN · South Bend, IN
- Airport
- C91 · Dowagiac Muni, runway 22, 2,176 × 100 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment
- Handheld GPS, Stall warning system
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
- 53
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 18, 2018
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 72 total · 70 in this make and model · 19 as pilot in command · 13 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.06 inHg
- Observed at
- KSBN, 19 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 5, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.1 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N8994V · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.