Cessna 172 accident near Allegan, Michigan, December 21, 1994
On December 21, 1994 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N7656X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Allegan, Michigan (Padgham Field). 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 student pilot's failure to maintain directional control which resulted in the inability to obtain proper runway alignment. Related factors are the student pilot's lack of total flight experience and the snowbank.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 21, 1994 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Allegan, Michigan · Padgham Field · 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
- N7656X · registry record · serial 17248156
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CFI REPORTED THE FLIGHT STARTED AS A DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, DURING WHICH THE STUDENT PILOT PRACTICED TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS. THE CFI STATED THE STUDENT PILOT'S PERFORMANCE WAS SATISFACTORY, SO HE AUTHORIZED AN INITIAL SUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT. THE INSTRUCTOR OBSERVED THE STUDENT PILOT'S LANDINGS FROM THE RAMP. HE STATED THE FIRST TWO LANDINGS WERE NORMAL AND SMOOTH. THE STUDENT REPORTED THAT DURING THE THIRD LANDING FLARE THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT, AND HE DID NOT APPLY SUFFICIENT CONTROL INPUT TO STOP THE DRIFT. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN WITH THE LEFT MAIN OFF THE RUNWAY, STRUCK A SNOWBANK AND NOSED OVER. THE STUDENT PILOT HAD ABOUT 18 HOURS TOTAL FLIGHT TIME.
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: 18 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 18 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,900 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Plainwell Aviation
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.