Event CEN15LA111

Factual narrative

On January 19, 2015, about 1730 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172F airplane, N7854U, impacted terrain during a go-around at the Lowell City Airport (24C), Lowell, Michigan. The solo student pilot was seriously injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by Majestic Air under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, which departed without a flight plan. The student stated that he was attempting a full stop landing and elected to go-around when he realized his anticipated touchdown point was too long for the 2,394 foot runway. During the go-around maneuver, the student stated that he did not apply full power due to disorientation, which included blurred vision and dizziness. The airplane climbed slowly and approached the end of the runway at low altitude. Concerned with trees near the end of the runway, the student began a crosswind turn at low altitude. The student subsequently lost control of the airplane, which descended rapidly and impacted terrain. A video taken by the flight instructor captured the accident sequence; this video and the flight instructor's observations paralleled the student perspective of a shallow climb with less than full engine power, followed by a crosswind turn at low altitude and rapid descent. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The solo student pilot was attempting a full-stop landing. The student reported that, when he recognized that the touchdown point was too far down the runway, he initiated a go-around. He added that, during the go-around, he did not apply full power. Due to the low engine power setting, the airplane climbed very slowly. Concerned about trees off the end of the runway, the student initiated a crosswind turn at low altitude and subsequently lost control of the airplane, which then rapidly descended and impacted terrain. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Student/instructed pilot - C
• C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Lack of action-Student/instructed pilot - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of equip/system-Student/instructed pilot - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Climb rate-Not attained/maintained - C