Cessna 172M accident near Hastings, Michigan, June 10, 1992
On June 10, 1992 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N80490, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hastings, Michigan (Hastings Muni 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
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S MISJUDGEMENT OF THE TOUCHDOWN POINT WHICH RESULTED IN AN UNDERSHOOT AND DAMAGE TO THE ELEVATOR. IN ADDITION, THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND FAILED TO PROPERLY INSPECT THE AIRPLANE FOR DAMAGE PRIOR TO FURTHER FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 10, 1992 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hastings, Michigan · Hastings Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N80490 · registry record · serial 17266616
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT WAS DEMONSTRATING A SHORT-FIELD LANDING, AND LANDED SHORT STRIKING THE RUNWAY END MARKER LIGHTS WITH THE GEAR AND ELEVATOR. NEITHER PILOT OBSERVED THE DAMAGED ELEVATOR AS THEY STOPPED ON THE RUNWAY AFTER THE LANDING. THEY DECIDED TO CONTINUE THE FLIGHT. THE DUAL STUDENT COMMENCED THE TAKEOFF, AND THE AIRPLANE PITCHED UP AND STALLED. THE ELEVATOR WAS FOUND BINDING ON THE HORIZONTAL TAIL; BOTH WERE DAMAGED. THE ELEVATOR TRIM WAS FULL NOSE-UP, AND THE FLAPS FULL DOWN.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,000 hours in all; 6,000 in this make and model; 12,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,512 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 4, 1992; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Princeton Leasing, INC
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Middleville MI at 3:00 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 3,900 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from GRR, 15 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.
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.