Cessna 172D accident near Midland, Michigan, October 4, 1990
On October 4, 1990 at about 8:37 pm local time, a Cessna 172D, registered N2592Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Midland, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT DID NOT REFUEL RESULTING IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE INADVERTENT STALL ENCOUNTERED DURING THE FORCED LANDING WAS ALSO A CAUSE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 4, 1990 · about 8:37 pm local time · cases in 1990
- Place
- Midland, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172D · all 172Ds on the register
- Registration
- N2592Y · registry record · serial 17249892
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD CONDUCTED A ROUND-ROBIN TRIP FROM HIS HOME AIRPORT WITHOUT FUELING THE AIRCRAFT. ON THE RETURN LEG THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER AND A FORCED LANDING WAS INITIATED. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE 'LOST TOO MUCH AIRSPEED' AND THE AIRPLANE STALLED. INVESTIGATION REVEALED ONLY UNUSABLE FUEL IN THE FUEL TANKS.
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: 250 hours in all; 232 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 188 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GDW Gladwin MI at 8:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 23 knots, gusting 29
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:58 pm from MBS, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N2592Y on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 172 Skyhawk 20,691 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,677 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental O-300-D 31 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Gladwin Zettel Memorial · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Michigan 2,107 since 1982 · 230 in the last ten years
- Michigan 7,231 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CHI91LA003.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.