Cessna 195 accident near Detroit, Michigan, June 13, 1991
On June 13, 1991 at about 7:33 pm local time, a Cessna 195, registered N4351V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Detroit, Michigan (Detroit City airport). It was an instructional 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
FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND INADEQUATE AIRCRAFT PREFLIGHT. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT IS THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 1991 · about 7:33 pm local time
- Place
- Detroit, Michigan · Detroit City · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 195 · all 195s on the register
- Registration
- N4351V · registry record · serial 7260
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS CHECKING THE OWNER OUT IN THE AIRCRAFT. INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO HANDLE ON THE GROUND BELOW 30 MILES PER HOUR. ON LANDING ROLLOUT THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO TURN TO THE LEFT WHEN SPEED GOT BELOW 30 MILES PER HOURS. PILOT COULD NOT CORRECT WITH RUDDER AND BRAKING. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE TAILWHEEL OLEO STRUT WAS NOT PROPERLY INFLATED. THIS CONDITION RENDERS THE TAILWHEEL STEERING, AND THE TAILWHEEL LOCKING INOPERATIVE. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR HAD THREE HOURS EXPERIENCE IN THIS MODEL AIRCRAFT.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,900 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 10,787 as pilot in command; 6,392 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs R-755 A2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 5,090 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:45 pm from DET, 1 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N4351V the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.