Cessna 172N accident near Marquette, Michigan, August 25, 1992
On August 25, 1992 at about 2:50 am local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N738HM, was destroyed in an accident near Marquette, Michigan (Marquette County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE DURING THE APPROACH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 25, 1992 · about 2:50 am local time
- Place
- Marquette, Michigan · Marquette County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N738HM · no longer on the register · serial 17269990
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT TOOK OFF AT 0400 AND FLEW 3 HOURS TO THE LOCATION OF THE MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED ANNUAL INSPECTIONS ON HIS AIRPLANE. THE PILOT EXPRESSED AN INTENT TO OBTAIN THE INSPECTION AND RETURN THE SAME DAY. ON THE RETURN FLIGHT, HE COMMENCED AN APPROACH TO HOME FIELD AT 2245 WITH WITH WEATHER BELOW APPROACH MINIMA IN FOG. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES 4 MILES FROM THE RUNWAY, CLOSE TO APPROACH CENTERLINE AND HEADING.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 980 hours in all; 550 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,299 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 24, 1992; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 2IN6 Butler IN at 11:36 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 8, 6,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 020° at 3 knots
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:48 am from MQT, 4 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.
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.