Cessna 172 accident near Whitehall, Michigan, August 27, 1994
On August 27, 1994 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N1106F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Whitehall, Michigan. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE FUEL EXHAUSTION AND THE SOFT CROP FIELD.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 27, 1994 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Whitehall, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N1106F · registry record · serial 17254701
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY. HE MADE AN INTERMEDIATE STOP WITHOUT REFUELING AND CONTINUED TOWARD HIS POINT OF ORIGIN WITH AN ESTIMATED 10 GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINING ON BOARD. AFTER APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR THE PILOT NOTICED THE FUEL GAUGES INDICATED LOW. HE ATTEMPTED TO CONTINUE TO THE CLOSEST AIRPORT, HIS FUEL WAS EXHAUSTED, AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE TO A CROP FIELD. DURING TOUCHDOWN THE AIRPLANE FLIPPED OVER, COMING TO REST INVERTED.
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: student
- Flight time: 55 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,710 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 25, 1994; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TVC Traverse City MI at 5:45 pm
- Destination: MKG Muskegon MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from MKG, 15 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.
Other NTSB records under N1106F the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.