Cessna 172M accident near Nashua, New Hampshire, June 7, 2001
On June 7, 2001 at about 10:10 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N6863H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nashua, New Hampshire (Boire Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The CFI's improper decision to abort the takeoff and his improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 2001 · about 10:10 pm local time
- Place
- Nashua, New Hampshire · Boire Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N6863H · no longer on the register · serial 17265617
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
As the airplane was taxiing to the runway, the CFI noticed a "skip" in the engine. During the pre-take off run up, the left magneto was observed as running "rough." The CFI increased the engine power to 2,000 RPM and leaned the mixture until the "roughness" was gone. The airplane was then taxied to the runway for departure. During the takeoff climb, about 100 to 200 feet AGL, the "skip" in the engine was experienced again. With about 1/3 of the runway remaining, the CFI elected to abort the take off, and descended the airplane at a steep angle towards the runway. The airplane impacted the runway with the nose wheel, bounced back into the air, and departed the end of the runway. The airplane touched down a second time on the nose wheel in a grass area, flipped over and came to rest inverted. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane after the accident and noted no discrepancies with the engine or ignition system.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,078 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 845 as pilot in command; 121 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 16, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,620 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 10, 2001; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ASH Nashua NH at 10:10 pm
- Destination: ASH Nashua NH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 5,501 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
- Observation at 10:10 pm from ASH
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.