Cessna 172 accident near Motley, Minnesota, July 18, 1995
On July 18, 1995 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N53716, was substantially damaged in an accident near Motley, Minnesota (Morey 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 pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during a soft field takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 18, 1995 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Motley, Minnesota · Morey Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N53716 · registry record · serial 17274806
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING A SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HE STATED HE LIFTED THE AIRPLANE OFF THE GROUND AT 60 MPH AND STAYED ABOVE THE RUNWAY TO BUILD AIRSPEED. THE LEFT WING DIPPED AND THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO CORRECT THE DRIFT, THE AIRPLANE LOST AIRSPEED AND ALTITUDE. HE SAID THE LEFT WING THEN BRUSHED THE RUNWAY FOLLOWED BY THE RIGHT WING MAKING HARDER CONTACT. THE AIRPLANE THEN HIT HARD ON THE RUNWAY AND CAME TO A STOP.
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: 324 hours in all; 3 in the last 90 days; 274 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 22Y at 9:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,720 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:45 pm from BRD, 22 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.