Cessna 175A accident near East Lansing, Michigan, August 6, 1992
On August 6, 1992 at about 3:20 pm local time, a Cessna 175A, registered N6853E, was substantially damaged in an accident near East Lansing, Michigan (East Lansing airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING CRUISE FLIGHT. RELATED FACTORS ARE THE LOOSE OIL FILLER CAP, AND THE SHORT, WET GRASS STRIP USED FOR THE EMERGENCY LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 6, 1992 · about 3:20 pm local time
- Place
- East Lansing, Michigan · East Lansing
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 175A · all 175As on the register
- Registration
- N6853E · no longer on the register · serial 56353
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 3,000 FEET WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND HE NOTED A DROP IN OIL PRESSURE. HE PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING ON A GRASS AIRSTRIP AT AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE RAN OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY, ACROSS A ROAD AND CAME TO REST INVERTED IN A DITCH. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF ENGINE OIL ALL OVER THE WINGS, TAIL SECTION, AND THE SIDES AND BOTTOM OF THE FUSELAGE. THE OIL FILLER CAP WAS LOOSE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, ATTACHED BY ITS CHAIN.
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: 335 hours in all; 20 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,484 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 30, 1992; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,870 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental GO-300C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5G9 Ottawa Lake MI at 1:27 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 1,950 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:50 pm from LAN, 5 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.