Cessna 172 accident near Plainwell, Michigan, May 16, 1993
On May 16, 1993 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N8657B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Plainwell, Michigan (Otsego-Plainwell Muni. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INITIATING HAND STARTING OF THE AIRPLANE UNATTENDED BY A QUALIFIED PERSON.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 16, 1993 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Plainwell, Michigan · Otsego-Plainwell Muni. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N8657B · registry record · serial 36357
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAND STARTED THE AIRPLANE WITH AN NON-PILOT PASSENGER IN THE AIRPLANE. AFTER THE ENGINE STARTED THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REENTER THE AIRPLANE TO STOP ITS FORWARD PROGRESS. THE NON-PILOT PASSENGER WAS UNABLE TO OPERATE THE CONTROLS TO STOP THE AIRPLANE.
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: 296 hours in all; 296 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,819 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 5, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from AZO, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.