Cessna 172P accident near Chesapeake, Ohio, January 30, 2011
On January 30, 2011 at about 6:50 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N55212, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Chesapeake, Ohio (Lawrence County Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The partial loss of engine power due to carburetor icing and the pilot’s delayed use of carburetor heat and failure to attain the proper touchdown point on the runway during the precautionary landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 30, 2011 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- Chesapeake, Ohio · Lawrence County Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N55212 · no longer on the register · serial 17275136
- 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 the takeoff run was normal, but during the initial climb the engine started to sound as if it was running rough. He immediately executed a steep left turn to return and land on the runway. On the final approach the airplane was high and fast, and floated down the runway. The airplane touched down about 2,000 feet down the runway and the pilot applied the toe brakes without effect. He applied full power and attempted to retract the flaps to avoid hitting the trees that were beyond the departure end of the runway. With the airspeed about 60 knots, the stall horn sounded and the airplane impacted the tree tops. The left wing dropped and the airplane rotated to the left with the nose impacting the ground. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no airframe or engine anomalies. Based on the temperature and dew point about the time of the accident, the conditions were favorable for serious icing at any power setting.
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
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Abrupt maneuver during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Contributed to outcome
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 220 hours in all; 59 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 179 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 6, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,498 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 23, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 2,220 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Attitude Aviation INC
The flight
- Departed from: HTW South Point OH at 6:45 pm
- Destination: 6L4 Logan WV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 3,001 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 pm from HTS, 5 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N55212 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.