Cessna 172P accident near Rattlesnake Isl, Ohio, January 2, 1991
On January 2, 1991 at about 3:55 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N9837L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rattlesnake Isl, Ohio (Rattlesnake Island airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE CFI'S DELAYED DECISION TO EXECUTE A GO-AROUND FROM A LONG LANDING AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 2, 1991 · about 3:55 pm local time
- Place
- Rattlesnake Isl, Ohio · Rattlesnake Island · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N9837L · registry record · serial 17276629
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO LAKE ERIE AFTER AN ABORTED LANDING ON RUNWAY 27 AT RATTLESNAKE ISLAND, OH. THE AIRPLANE RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE STUDENT PILOT DROWNED, AND THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. THE TURF RUNWAY WAS 100 FEET WIDE, 1500 FEET LONG, AND WAS COVERED WITH ONE INCH OF SNOW. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE CFI ATTEMPTED A GO-AROUND; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE FAILED TO MAINTAIN A POSITIVE CLIMB AND STRUCK THE WATER APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END. THE OCCUPANTS ATTEMPTED TO SWIM TO SHORE. THE WATER TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35 DEGREES F.
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, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,517 hours in all; 420 in this make and model; 210 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 2,359 as pilot in command; 1,805 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,882 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 5, 1990; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: T & G Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: BKL Cleveland OH at 2:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,500 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,100 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 | ||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N9837L the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.