Cessna 172N accident near Maple Lake, Minnesota, November 22, 2017
On November 22, 2017 at about 6:00 pm local time, a 1977 Cessna 172N, registered N734VH, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Maple Lake, Minnesota (Maple Lake Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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 maintain directional control while landing, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 22, 2017 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Maple Lake, Minnesota · Maple Lake Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N N, built 1977 · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N734VH · no longer on the register · serial 17269145
- 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 he had a "rough landing" and the "right rear strut wheel broke." Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane touched down on the runway, and skid marks were found on the runway and grass infield. The airplane exited the runway, crossed over a taxiway, impacted a rock drainage revetment, and then impacted a hangar about 2,100 ft from the touchdown point. The landing gear strut did not separate from the airplane until about 100 ft before impact with the hangar. Examination of the airplane wreckage did not reveal any preimpact malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Thus, the pilot likely failed to maintain directional control while landing, which resulted in a runway excursion.
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 (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 120 hours in all; 100 in this make and model
- Last flight review: August 1, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,980 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2016; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,299 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 8,607 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UMB Cumberland WI at 5:00 pm
- Destination: MGG Maple Lake MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 2,796 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,500 ft; scat at 4,900 ft
- Temperature: 23°F (-5°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from MGG
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on December 27, 2019. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memorandum for the Record Pilot Information | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for the Record FAA Inspector Information | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Image of Approximate Tounchdown Area and Hangar | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N734VH 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.