Cessna 172K accident near East Tawas, Michigan, September 23, 1986
On September 23, 1986 at about 10:00 am local time, a Cessna 172K, registered N78715, was destroyed in an accident near East Tawas, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 23, 1986 · about 10:00 am local time
- Place
- East Tawas, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N78715 · no longer on the register · serial 17257728
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES WHILE IN LOW LEVEL FLIGHT FOLLOWING A PREDAWN DEPARTURE. AN AIRPORT 10 MILES TO THE NORTH WAS REPORTING VERY LOW CEILINGS WITH VISIBILITIES LOWER THAN 1/2 MILE IN FOG AND DRIZZLE. THE PROXIMITY TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT AND THE AIRCRAFT'S HEADING ON IMPACT SUGGEST THAT THE PILOT MAY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO MAINTAIN VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE GROUND WHILE RETURNING TO LAND AT THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. THE PLT LOGS OF THE PLTS WERE NOT RECOVERED AND NO FLT TIME INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6D9 East Tawas MI
- Destination: DET Detroit MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 050° at 1 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 am from OSC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.