Cessna 172K accident near Boyne City, Michigan, July 10, 2010
On July 10, 2010 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172K, registered N79097, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Boyne City, Michigan (Boyne City Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point and delayed go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 10, 2010 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Boyne City, Michigan · Boyne City Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N79097 · no longer on the register · serial 17257879
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Prior to arriving in the airport traffic pattern, the pilot heard that other aircraft were landing on runway 09, a 4,000-foot-long by 75-foot-wide runway, and the winds were light and variable. The pilot stated, "I landed long on runway 09." He then attempted to go-around; however, the airplane's nose wheel struck the top of the airport perimeter fence. The airplane flipped over and came to rest inverted. The pilot reported no anomalies with the airplane. According to the pilot, the accident could have been prevented if he had initiated a go-around after the airplane had over-flown the first 1/3 of the runway and had not touched down.
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
What happened, in order
- Landing area overshoot during landing defining event
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,301 hours in all; 2,260 in this make and model; 2,264 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 18, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,544 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 16, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 2,075 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4Y4 Lakes Of The No MI at 5:00 pm
- Destination: N98 Boyne City MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.