Cessna 172M accident near Marquette, Michigan, January 5, 2015
On January 5, 2015 at about 8:35 pm local time, a 1975 Cessna 172M, registered N6591H, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Marquette, Michigan (Sawyer Intl 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
The pilot did not maintain directional control during takeoff on the snow and ice covered runway in gusting crosswind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 5, 2015 · about 8:35 pm local time
- Place
- Marquette, Michigan · Sawyer Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M M, built 1975 · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N6591H · no longer on the register · serial 17265501
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot planned a local afternoon flight, which included takeoff from a runway covered with patchy snow and ice. Throughout the morning and afternoon prior to the accident, surface wind observations were westerly at 5 to 12 knots. During takeoff roll on the northerly runway, the pilot stated he encountered a gust of westerly crosswinds and the airplane yawed to the left. Unable to maintain directional control, the pilot aborted the takeoff. The airplane subsequently impacted a snowdrift on the left side of the runway and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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 takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Decision related to condition
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Snow/slush/ice covered › Effect on equipment
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 204 hours in all; 190 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 145 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 24, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,631 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 7, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 2,299 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320 SERIES (piston); 10,493 hours total
- Operator: Marquette County Flying Club INC
The flight
- Departed from: SAW Marquette MI at 8:35 pm
- Destination: SAW Marquette MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01, 12,366 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,800 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 1°F (-17°C), dew point -11°F (-24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from KSAW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.