Cessna 172M accident near Pontiac, Michigan, September 5, 2007
On September 5, 2007 at about 3:31 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N73455, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pontiac, Michigan (Oakland-Pontiac airport). It was an instructional 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's misjudgment of the landing flare and her improper recovery from the bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 2007 · about 3:31 pm local time · cases in 2007
- Place
- Pontiac, Michigan · Oakland-Pontiac · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N73455 · registry record · serial 17267473
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot inadvertently executed a hard landing on runway 9R (6,200 feet by 150 feet, asphalt). The intention of the flight was to complete three takeoffs and landings for currency. The accident occurred on the second landing. The pilot reported that she flew the approach at between 65 and 70 knots, with full flaps. She stated that the airplane "bounced a few times" during landing. She recalled trying to get the airplane out of the "continuing bounce" by applying full power and pulling back on the elevator control. She noted that the airplane began to climb, so she reduced power while continuing to apply back pressure. The airplane subsequently stopped bouncing and she taxied to the ramp. The pilot reported no failures or malfunctions associated with the aircraft prior to 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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 122 hours in all; 46 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 38 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,643 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PTK Pontiac MI at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9R, 6,200 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 23,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from PTK
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.
Other NTSB records under N73455 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N73455 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 172 Skyhawk 20,693 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,678 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D 259 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Oakland County International · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Michigan 2,107 since 1982 · 230 in the last ten years
- Michigan 7,236 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N73455 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CHI07CA294.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.