Cessna 172G accident near Put-In-Bay, Ohio, August 26, 1995
On August 26, 1995 at about 6:40 pm local time, a Cessna 172G, registered N3680L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Put-In-Bay, Ohio (Put-In-Bay airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S DELAY IN ABORTING THE LANDING AFTER SELECTING THE WRONG RUNWAY. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: GARBLED RADIO TRANSMISSIONS ON THE UNICOM FREQUENCY, AND THE RESULTANT TAILWIND FOR LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 26, 1995 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Put-In-Bay, Ohio · Put-In-Bay · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172G · all 172Gs on the register
- Registration
- N3680L · no longer on the register · serial 17253849
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHEN HE ARRIVED AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, THE UNICOM FREQUENCY TRANSMISSIONS REGARDING ACTIVE RUNWAY INFORMATION WERE GARBLED. HE STATED THAT HE THOUGHT HE HEARD 'NO TRAFFIC' AND '22', SO HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON RUNWAY 22. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN, HE REALIZED THAT HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO STOP BY THE END OF THE RUNWAY, SO HE ABORTED THE LANDING. HE STATED THAT DURING THE CLIMB OUT, THE STALL ALARM SOUNDED INTERMITTENTLY, AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF THE RADIO TRANSMISSIONS WERE BETTER AND HE HAD USED RUNWAY 4. WINDS IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT SITE WERE REPORTED TO BE FROM 070 DEGREES AT 8 KNOTS. AN FAA INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT HALF WAY DOWN THE 2870 FOOT LONG RUNWAY.
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: 283 hours in all; 235 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 180 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,680 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1995; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DET Detroit MI at 6:00 pm
- Destination: OH30 OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 2,870 ft by 25 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from TOL, 45 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.