Clare Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Clare, Michigan 48617
Friday, February 14, 2003 14:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane sustained substantial damage when it veered off the runway and hit a snow bank. The student pilot was on a solo cross country instructional flight. The student pilot, who had a total of 38 hours of flight time, reported that she "pulled the nose up too soon" during takeoff. The airplane veered to the left as she tried to lower the nose. She reduced power but was unable to prevent the airplane from departing the runway and hitting a snow bank on the left side of the runway.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilot failed to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff roll. A factor was the snow bank.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/14/2003
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Clare
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48617
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 435004N
Event Location Longitude 0844424W
Event Location Airport Clare Municipal Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 48D
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 857
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1355 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 185
Weather Observation Facility ID MOP
Elevation of weather observation facility 775
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.11
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) 14538
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Feb 20 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1200
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 30 2003 8:55AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA-Grand Rapids FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N693SA
NTSB Number CHI03LA073
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17258514
Certified Max Gross Weight 2450
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 30 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 49
Airframe Hours 1551
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Denron Contracting Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. Box 700
Aircraft Owner City Flushing
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48433
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name American Wings Academy
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 3375 W. Bristol
Operator City Flint
Operator State MI
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 48507
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 48D
Departure City Clare
Departure State MI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1430
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FNT
Destination City FLINT
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 Oct 31 2003 9:00AM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 8
Runway Length 2500
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --