Cessna 172S accident near Ann Arbor, Michigan, June 9, 2013
On June 9, 2013 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172S, registered N857SP, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Ann Arbor, Michigan (Ann Arbor Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 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 make a go-around in a timely manner and his loss of control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 2013 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ann Arbor, Michigan · Ann Arbor Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172S · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N857SP · registry record · serial 172S8115
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was cleared to land on runway 30. The recorded wind was 110 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 17 knots. The airplane touched down at 50 to 60 knots and about 700 feet short of the intersection with runway 6-24. A slight upward slope at the intersection caused the airplane to bounce and become airborne. The pilot contemplated making a go-around, but elected to continue the landing. Upon touching down again, the airplane began to porpoise, the nose wheel collapsed, and the airplane came to a stop.
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 control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Contributed to outcome
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,597 hours in all; 22 in this make and model
- Last flight review: September 25, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,367 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 22, 2012; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Btg Aviation, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KARB Ann Arbot MI at 2:00 pm
- Destination: KARB Ann Arbot MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 2,750 ft by 110 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from KARB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.