Cessna 172M accident near Madison, Mississippi, December 4, 1995
On December 4, 1995 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N12245, was substantially damaged in an accident near Madison, Mississippi (Bruce Campbell Field). 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 PREMATURE RAISING OF FLAPS DURING A GO-AROUND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 4, 1995 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Madison, Mississippi · Bruce Campbell Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N12245 · registry record · serial 172-61905
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH WITH FULL FLAPS THE AIRPLANE STARTED SINKING. HE ADDED FULL POWER FOR A GO-AROUND AND RAISED THE FLAPS, BUT THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED SINKING UNTIL THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED TO THE LEFT AND CAME TO REST IN A SMALL DITCH. THE FLAPS WERE FOUND IN THE UP POSITION. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES TO REDUCE THE WING FLAP SETTING TO 20 DEGREES IMMEDIATELY AFTER FULL POWER IS APPLIED IN A BALKED LANDING (GO-AROUND) CLIMB. WEATHER INFORMATION FOR THE TIME PERIOD OF THE ACCIDENT REVEALED NO RECORD OF TURBULENCE, DOWNDRAFTS, GUSTS, OR WINDSHEAR. THE WINDS REMAINED OUT OF THE EAST NORTHEAST AT 3 TO 4 KNOTS.
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: 600 hours in all; 385 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FTY Atlanta GA at 4:15 pm
- Destination: MBO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 4,444 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:15 pm from JAN, 10 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.