Cessna 172N accident near Plainwell, Michigan, May 29, 2000
On May 29, 2000 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N5200K, was destroyed in an accident near Plainwell, Michigan (Plainwell Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot exceeded the proper touchdown point during the landing. Factors associated with the accident were the fence and the ditch which the airplane contacted.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 2000 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Plainwell, Michigan · Plainwell Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N5200K · no longer on the register · serial 17274008
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported, 'I descended to the runway and touched down gently, but the aircraft 'skipped' repeatedly.' The airplane continued off the end of the runway where it traveled through a fence and nosed over in a ditch. The pilot stated he saw flames after the airplane nosed over. He was able to release his seatbelt and crawl out of the wreckage. Inspection of the airport and wreckage indicated the airplane touched down in the last 1/3 of the runway length. The airplane then traveled through approximately 50' of grass prior to contacting the ditch where it nosed over and was destroyed by fire.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 180 hours in all; 70 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Charlotte Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: 07G Charlotte MI at 8:30 pm
- Destination: 61D
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,650 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from AZO, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.