Cessna 172 accident near Pullman, Michigan, August 24, 2008
On August 24, 2008 at about 7:06 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N3901R, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Pullman, Michigan (Michigan City Muni 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
A complete loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the rough terrain encountered during the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 24, 2008 · about 7:06 pm local time
- Place
- Pullman, Michigan · Michigan City Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 H · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N3901R · registry record · serial 172-55401
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the purpose of the local flight was to put approximately two hours flight time on the engine after some recent maintenance work. The pilot indicated that takeoff and initial climb were normal. After about 50 minutes of flight, the engine hesitated and began to lose power. The pilot noted an initial drop in engine speed of 200 revolutions per minute (rpm). He established a course toward an intermediate airport approximately 6 miles from his present position. His efforts to restore full engine power were not successful, and the engine ultimately lost all power. He executed a forced landing to a corn field, substantially damaging the airplane. A post-accident examination did not reveal any reason for the loss of power.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Emergency descent initiated during enroute (cruise)
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Power plant › (general) › Failure
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 228 hours in all; 155 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 225 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 31, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,623 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 17, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MGC Michigan City IN at 6:15 pm
- Destination: MGC Michigan City IN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from BIV, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.