Cessna 172K accident near Holland, Michigan, March 20, 2001
On March 20, 2001 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172K, registered N79301, was substantially damaged in an accident near Holland, Michigan (Tulip City 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 failed to maintain directional control of the airplane. Factors included the soft ground and the runway lights.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 20, 2001 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Holland, Michigan · Tulip City Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N79301 · no longer on the register · serial 17258030
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During takeoff roll from a touch and go the airplane veered off runway 08 when full throttle was applied. The pilot reported, "I lost control of the plane while still on the runway. First, the plane went to the right and then to the left. Power was pulled off and the plane went off the runway into the soft ground and mud next to the runway. I tried steering to the right, but the airplane started sliding sideways. When the plane straightened out it hit a taxiway marking light. The plane then went across the taxiway hitting a marking light on the other side of the runway. While braking on the soft ground, the airplane went up on its nose and right wing. The plane came to a stop and righted itself back down on its landing gear." The pilot reported the wind direction was 110 degrees at 8 knots at the time of the accident.
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
- Flight time: 87 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 42 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 1, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,263 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 19, 2001; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BIV Holland MI at 9:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 11:02 pm from BIV
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.