Kelleys Island Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Kelleys Island, Ohio 43438
Monday, September 3, 2007 21:06 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The non-instrument rated pilot departed to the east from the island airport at night. Witnesses reported seeing the airplane descend into Lake Erie shortly after takeoff. A resident of the island used his rowboat to rescue the surviving passenger. Post accident inspection of the airframe and engine failed to reveal any mechanical failure/malfunction that would have resulted in the accident. The departure end of the runway is approximately 200 feet from the lakeshore. The closest ground reference would have been the Ohio shoreline located about 10 miles south (to the right of) of the airplane's position.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident were the water and dark night conditions which resulted in the lack of ground references during the takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/3/2007
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 2106
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Kelleys Island
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 43438
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 413610N
Event Location Longitude 0824105W
Event Location Airport Kelleys Island
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 89D
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 598
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2051 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 110
Weather Observation Facility ID CLE
Elevation of weather observation facility 791
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 39
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
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) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 15
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.09
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 24252
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Sep 3 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 26 2008 6:40PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Cleveland. OH FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1301Y
NTSB Number CHI07FA290
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172C
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17249001
Certified Max Gross Weight 2250
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Jun 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 18
Airframe Hours 1699
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Jeffrey D. Hutchison
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Lima
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 45806
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 89D
Departure City Kelley's Island
Departure State OH
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 2106
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code AOH
Destination City Lima
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 8 2008 5:18PM
User who most recently changed record BOWL
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 09
Runway Length 2203
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --