Cessna 172M accident near Galion, Ohio, May 18, 1997
On May 18, 1997 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N4430R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Galion, Ohio (Galion Municipal Airport). It was a personal 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 inadvertent encounter with the helicopter main rotor downwash during the initial takeoff climb. Subsequently, the airplane descended and impacted the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 18, 1997 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Galion, Ohio · Galion Municipal Airport · 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
- N4430R · registry record · serial 17263175
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While a helicopter was approaching the south side of runway 23 from the east, the airplane pilot was conducting a takeoff from runway 23. During the initial takeoff climb, about 50 above ground level, the airplane encountered main rotor downwash from the helicopter. The airplane then descended and impacted the ground. The airplane pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. The airplane pilot further reported that after the accident, the helicopter landing site was relocated to an area further away from the active runway.
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: 1,556 hours in all; 1,293 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,756 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 18, 1996; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GQQ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 3,504 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 pm from MFD, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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.