Cessna 172N accident near Romeo, Michigan, June 27, 2003
On June 27, 2003 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N739NW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Romeo, Michigan (Romeo State 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 not maintaining directional control during landing. A factor to the accident was the parked airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 2003 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Romeo, Michigan · Romeo State Airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N739NW · registry record · serial 17270683
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The aircraft departed the runway during landing and impacted a parked airplane. The pilot reported he was landing on runway 27 (2,092 feet by 50 feet, asphalt) when the "right brake and wheel locked up" during the landing roll. The pilot stated the airplane departed the right side of the runway and "rolled through the grass apron and onto the paved ramp." The pilot reported the right wingtip impacted the tail of a parked aircraft on the ramp. An airframe and powerplant (A&P) mechanic inspected the right tire, rotor, brake caliper, and brake pad. No anomalies were found with the inspected items; all components were in a serviceable condition. The mechanic reported the owner of the maintenance facility had taxied the airplane after the accident with no difficulties.
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: 206 hours in all; 204 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 157 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 3, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,645.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 11, 2002; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MKG Muskegon MI at 5:00 pm
- Destination: D98 Romeo MI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 27, 2,092 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from PTK, 21 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.