Cessna 172N accident near Lake City, Florida, August 31, 1991
On August 31, 1991 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N737VK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake City, Florida (Brothers Welcome airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people 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 FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING A DEMONSTRATED DOWNWIND SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF. THIS RESULTED IN AN IN FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL, STALL, AND COLLISION WITH TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 31, 1991 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Lake City, Florida · Brothers Welcome · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N737VK · no longer on the register · serial 17269707
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ATP WAS DEMONSTRATING A SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF DOWNWIND WITH A STUDENT PILOT PASSENGER. THE ATP PILOT PULLED THE CONTROL YOKE AFT AT THE END OF THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY AND FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED (VSO). THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND EXPERIENCED AN IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH THE TERRAIN. VFR CONDITIONS PREVAILED. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE ATP PILOT AND INFANT PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE STUDENT PILOT WAS NOT INJURED.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,500 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 3,000 as pilot in command; 200 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Suwannee Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,600 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from GNV, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.