Cessna 172C accident near Kelleys Island, OH
On September 4, 2007, a Cessna 172C (airplane) was involved in an accident near Kelleys Island, OH. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- September 4, 2007
- Place
- Kelleys Island, OH
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172C · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 41.603°N, 82.685°W
- NTSB ID
- 20070910X01346
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 3, 2007, at 2106 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172C, N1301Y, collided with the water in Lake Erie approximately one-quarter mile off the east end of Kelleys Island, Ohio. The airplane departed on runway 09 (2,203 feet by 50 feet) at the Kelleys Island Municipal Airport (89D) just prior to the accident. The private pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. A second passenger received serious injuries. The Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight was originating at the time of the accident with an intended destination of Lima, Ohio. A person on the island reported speaking with the pilot at the airport. The witness stated he drove the pilot and two boys to see the glacial grooves on the island. He stated the pilot told him this was the first time he had flown into Kelleys Island and that he landed hard due to the airstrip sloping down near the waters edge. Another witness reported seeing the airplane takeoff and climb to an estimated altitude of about 200 feet. The airplane then veered to the right and descended into the water. Another witness reported seeing the airplane porpoise twice as it was taking off. A resident of the island reported seeing the airplane takeoff and descend into the water. This witness used his rowboat to get to the accident site where he rescued the surviving passenger. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot, age 46, held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. This certificate was issued
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident were the water and dark night conditions which resulted in the lack of ground references during the takeoff.
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Browse: Ohio · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
