Cessna 172M accident near Manhattan, Kansas, April 21, 2022
On April 21, 2022, a 1975 Cessna 172M, registered N9263H, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Manhattan, Kansas (Smith Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to use carburetor heat during the approach and his unsuitable flight profile for an upsloping runway, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power and an impact with terrain during an attempted go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 21, 2022
- Place
- Manhattan, Kansas · Smith Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M, built 1975 · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N9263H · registry record · serial 17266056
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot flew a low approach to a turf runway with an upslope and then attempted a go around with an airspeed of about 55 knots and the flaps extended. The pilot noted a partial loss of engine power and noted that the airplane would not climb. The airplane descended slightly and subsequently impacted trees and fence poles beyond the departure end of the runway, which damaged both wings. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engines revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot stated he did not apply carburetor heat during the approach. With the probability of serious carburetor icing at glide power, the lack of carburetor heat likely contributed to the partial loss of engine power during the go-around attempt. Another pilot familiar with the airport reported that the runway’s upslope was difficult to fly over. Because the pilot did not maintain a higher airspeed during the low approach and initiate the go-around earlier, he flew an unsuitable profile for the upsloping runway.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR go-around)
- Loss of engine power (partial) during approach (VFR go-around)
- Fuel related during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Understanding/comprehension › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on equipment
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Sloped/uneven terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 197 hours in all; 133 in this make and model; 130 in the last 90 days; 65 in the last 30 days; 130 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 17, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,698 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2021; 369 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: K S Flying Club INC
The flight
- Departed from: 69K Wamego KS
- Destination: MHK Manhattan KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,800 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.74 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from KMHK, 12 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KMHK 202352Z 35006KT 10SM CLR 21/12 A2974 RMK AO2 SLP066 60000 T02110117 10217 20150 51025
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N9263H the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN22LA181.