Cessna 172 N8540B

Summary

On 22 January 2006 at about 19:40 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N8540B was involved in an accident near Harrison, Michigan, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 January 2006 at 19:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Harrison, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Claire County Airport (80D)

Coordinates

44.0528, -84.8125

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N8540B

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Saginaw → Harrison

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI06LA070

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall. A factor associated with the accident was the pilot's impairment due to drugs.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane contacted trees and the terrain while in the airport traffic pattern. There were no known witnesses to the accident; however, several witnesses reported seeing the airplane flying in the area prior to the accident. One witness reported seeing the airplane touchdown on runway 18 but did not see whether or not it stayed on the ground or if the pilot performed a touch and go. Data downloaded from a hand-help global positioning system foundin the wreckage revealed a track beginning near the pilot's departure airport at 1335. Although there are several heading changes the track continues toward the accident airport. The track showed the airplane continued west until reaching the north end of the runway. The track then turned to the south and followed the length of the runway prior to making a turn to the east. The track then showed the airplane heading north to a point approximately 2.5 statute miles north of the airport. The track then turned to the south, heading back toward the airport. According to the data, the airplane continued on a course which varied between 186 and 175 degrees true. The data also showed the airplane's ground speed decreasing from 99 miles per hour to 51 miles per hour during this period. The last data point showed the airplane on a heading of 157 degrees true with a speed of 56 miles per hour. The airplane came to rest in a wooded area approximately 500 feet east of the runway and approximately 1,000 feet north of the south end of the runway. The airplane contacted trees, which were approximately 40 feet tall, prior to impacting the ground. The airplane impacted the terrain in an approximate 45-degree nose down attitude. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any failure/malfunction of the flight controls or engine which would have resulted in the accident. Toxicological tests detected Chlorpheniramine, Tetrahydrocannabinol (Marijuana), Tetrahydrocannabinol Carboxylic Acid (Marijuana), Phenylpropanolamine, and Psuedoephedrine in blood and tissue samples.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.