Cessna 172 accident near Bellaire, Michigan, October 28, 1991
On October 28, 1991 at about 8:46 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N3795A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bellaire, Michigan (Antrim CO airport). 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'S IMPROPER REMEDIAL ACTION AFTER BALLOONING DURING A LANDING FLARE. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT ARE GUSTY CROSSWINDS AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 28, 1991 · about 8:46 pm local time
- Place
- Bellaire, Michigan · Antrim CO
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N3795A · registry record · serial 29495
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE DRAGGED A WING ON THE RUNWAY AFTER BALLOONING AND STALLING DURING A LANDING FLARE. THE AIRPLANE THEN LEFT THE RUNWAY AND NOSED DOWN IN SOFT TERRAIN. STRONG GUSTY CROSSWINDS WERE PRESENT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: 87 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 60 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,070 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 2, 1991; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Grand Traverse Air Svc. INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Y17 Acme MI at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 9 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 pm from TVC, 22 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.