Frank Voshell Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sunfield, Michigan 48890
Wednesday, January 31, 2001 13:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported the airplane was substantially damaged during takeoff when the left main gear encountered slushy snow that pulled the airplane to the left into a snowbank along the left side of the runway. The pilot reported the airplane was pulled into the deeper snow and the airplane went up on its nose and right wingtip.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate preflight preparation and the unsuitable terrain for takeoff encountered. Factors included the slushy runway and the snowbank.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/31/2001
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1300
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Sunfield
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48890
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport Frank Voshell
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 800
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1255 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 85
Weather Observation Facility ID LAN
Elevation of weather observation facility 861
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 18
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 18
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.66
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11007
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Mar 20 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1412
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Nov 27 2001 11:26AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA-GRAND RAPIDS FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6448V
NTSB Number CHI01LA106
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172RG
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 172RG0709
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 14 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours 2576
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Daniel Hamilton
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3425 Tatonka Trail
Aircraft Owner City Hastings
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 49058
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Sunfield
Departure State --
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 9D9
Destination City Hastings
Destination State MI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Nov 1 2001 8:49AM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --