Cessna 172 accident near Canton, Michigan, July 25, 1990
On July 25, 1990 at about 7:36 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N4330Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Canton, Michigan (Mettetal-Canton 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE TAKEOFF PROCEDURE, PREMATURE LIFTOFF AND DELAYED REACTION TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 25, 1990 · about 7:36 pm local time
- Place
- Canton, Michigan · Mettetal-Canton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N4330Q · registry record · serial 17260230
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ABORTED HIS TAKEOFF AFTER LIFTING OFF DUE TO PERCEIVED AIRPLANE PERFORMANCE DEGRADATION. THE TAKEOFF PROCEDURE BEING USED WAS NOT THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED PROCEDURE. THE AIRPLANE WAS AT MAX GROSS WEIGHT ON A HOT DAY. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ON THE MAIN LANDING GEAR AND THE PILOT IN COMMAND LOCKED THE BRAKES. THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED ALONG THE RUNWAY AND OFF ITS END STRIKING A HIGHWAY EDGE LIP, BECOMING INVERTED AS IT SLID ACROSS THE HIGHWAY. THE PLANE ULTIMATELY CAME TO REST IN A FIELD ADJACENT TO THE HIGHWAY.
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: 230 hours in all; 162 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ID2 at 7:35 pm
- Destination: OSH Oshkosh WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,550 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,600 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from DTW, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.