Cessna 172M accident near Ravenna, Ohio, February 18, 1994
On February 18, 1994 at about 6:50 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N9101H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ravenna, Ohio (Portage County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF LEADING TO A COLLISION WITH A SNOW BANK WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE NOSING OVER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 18, 1994 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- Ravenna, Ohio · Portage County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N9101H · no longer on the register · serial 17265945
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE FLEW TO THE AIRPORT TO PRACTICE TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS. HE STATED THAT HE COMPLETED THE LANDING SUCCESSFULLY, AND AS HE ADDED POWER TO TAKEOFF FROM RUNWAY 27 THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT. HE STATED THAT HE REDUCED THE POWER AND TRIED TO RE-ALIGN THE AIRPLANE WITH THE CENTERLINE, BUT HE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO VEER OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK A SNOWBANK BEFORE IT NOSED OVER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THE WINDS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE 170 DEGREES AT 15 KNOTS.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 89 hours in all; 87 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 33 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,169 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 10, 1993; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Pro Flight INC.
The flight
- Departed from: BKL Cleveland OH at 6:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,100 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from CAK, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.