Cessna 172D accident near Bad Axe, Michigan, April 20, 1984
On April 20, 1984 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172D, registered N2472U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bad Axe, Michigan (Huron Memorial airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 20, 1984 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Bad Axe, Michigan · Huron Memorial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172D · all 172Ds on the register
- Registration
- N2472U · registry record · serial 17250072
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TRAVELING 100-150 FT ON THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE RGT BRAKE SEIZED & THE ACFT VEERED SHARPLY TO THE RGT. THE ACFT DEPARTED THE RWY & WENT INTO A MUDDY AREA WHERE THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED & THE ACFT NOSED DOWN. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE 200 FT LONG SKID MARKS ON THE RWY FROM THE RGT TIRE. HE ALSO REPORTED THAT THE PINS ON THE BRAKE PAD WERE LOOSE WHICH ALLOWED IT TO MOVE & SUBSEQUENTLY SEIZE.
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: 89 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 42 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,014 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 28, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: C16 Urbana IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:15 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI84LA156.