Cessna 172N N5321D

Summary

On 23 February 2007 at about 13:54 local time, a Cessna 172N registered N5321D was involved in an accident near Holland, 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

23 February 2007 at 13:54

Classification

Accident

Location

Holland, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Tulip City (BIV)

Coordinates

42.7428, -86.1075

Aircraft

Cessna 172N

Registration

N5321D

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Holland → Ludington

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI07CA076

Nobody was injured.

The student pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind condition and his failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff, which caused the airplane to impact the snow bank and nose over. Contributing factors were the crosswind and the snow bank along the edge of the runway.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was substantially damaged when it struck a snow bank at the edge of the runway during takeoff and nosed over. The student pilot was not injured. The pilot reported that the start-up, taxi, and before takeoff inspection were normal. He noted that wind information was missing from the automated weather broadcast at the departure airport. Based on his observation of the wind sock, he estimated the winds were from 160 degrees at 8 knots. He selected runway 8 (6,264 feet by 100 feet, asphalt) for takeoff. The pilot stated that about 45 knots during the takeoff roll, the airplane started drifting to the left. When right rudder did not stop the drift, he applied the brake and reduced engine power. However, the airplane subsequently struck the snow bank adjacent to the edge of the runway and nosed over. A post accident inspection did not reveal any anomalies with the brakes or nose wheel steering consistent with a pre-impact failure.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.