Cessna 177 N3468T

Summary

On 14 February 2004 at about 22:24 local time, a Cessna 177 registered N3468T was involved in an accident near Sturgis, Michigan, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 February 2004 at 22:24

Classification

Accident

Location

Sturgis, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Kirsch Muni (IRS)

Coordinates

41.8124, -85.4306

Aircraft

Cessna 177

Registration

N3468T

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sturgis → Sturgis

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI04LA076

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadvertent raising of flaps resulting in a loss of lift and his failure to maintain aircraft control resulting in a dragging of the wing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with a runway during an attempted go-around. The pilot reported that on his third practice landing, at approximately 5-10 feet above ground level, he was aligned just left of the center of the runway with the right wing tip slightly down, when he unexpectedly experienced a small gust of wind. The pilot stated that he attempted a go-around by applying full power and retrimming the airplane. The airplane momentarily began to gain altitude but the pilot mistakenly retracted all the flaps. The airplane settled back to the ground and the right wing tip impacted the runway. The pilot stated that he over corrected causing the left wing tip to impact the runway. The airplane exited the runway coming to a full-stop in snow to the east side of the runway.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.