Cessna 175 accident near Lawton, Michigan, July 15, 1989
On July 15, 1989 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 175, registered N7404M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lawton, Michigan (Gravel Lake airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S DELAY IN ABORTING TAKEOFF AND HIS EXCESSIVE RATE OF DESCENT AT TOUCHDOWN. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 1989 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lawton, Michigan · Gravel Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 175 · all 175s on the register
- Registration
- N7404M · registry record · serial 55704
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT EXECUTED A WATER TAKEOFF AT MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT. AFTER LIFTOFF, HE ASSESSED HIS CLIMB AS INADEQUATE TO CLEAR OBSTACLES ON THE LAKESHORE AND PUT DOWN. HE STATED THE LANDING WAS HARD ENOUGH TO DO DAMAGE. AFTER LANDING, HE ATTEMPTED A RIGHT TURN TO AVOID THE SHORELINE, THE RIGHT FLOAT SEPARATED AND THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE SURFACE.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 250 hours in all; 125 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 175 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Gravel Lake MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.