Cessna 172RG accident near Frankfort, Michigan, February 27, 1994
On February 27, 1994 at about 2:00 am local time, a Cessna 172RG, registered N4871V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Frankfort, Michigan (City-County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE SNOW COVERED RUNWAY WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 27, 1994 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Frankfort, Michigan · City-County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172RG · all 172RGs on the register
- Registration
- N4871V · registry record · serial 172RG0406
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEF PRIOR TO DEPARTURE IN ADDITION TO HAVING A LOCAL RESIDENT AT THE DESTINATION REPORT THAT THE RUNWAY HAD BEEN CLEARED AFTER A RECENT SNOWSTORM. AFTER A TWO HOUR FLIGHT, THE PILOT TOUCHED DOWN ON A NIGHT VISUAL LANDING AT THE UNATTENDED AIRPORT. DURING THE LANDING ROLLOUT ON THE 50 FOOT WIDE RUNWAY, THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED DRIFTED SNOW. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND THE AIRPLANE SWERVED INTO THE PLOWED SNOWBANK ON THE RUNWAY EDGE.
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: 153 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 83 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,604 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 15, 1994; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-F1A6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PTK Pontiac MI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 32, 3,240 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 am from LAN, 150 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.