NTSB Factual Report

On July 22, 2001, at 1630 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182T, N3559E, operated by a student pilot, sustained substantial damage when it overran runway 18 (2,000 feet by 113 feet, dry grass/turf) at the Maple Grove Airport (65G), Fowlerville, Michigan, went through a bean field, and into a pond where the airplane flipped over. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The student pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated at Howell, Michigan, at 1600.

In his written statement, the student pilot said, "[I] started to flare at 60-65 [knots], but the flare lasted longer than normal. Once I landed, I pulled full or hard brakes, but [the airplane] continued to slide." The student pilot said he slid over a road at the end of the runway and became airborne. "[On] the other side of the road was a slight hill. I tried full power, but did not get enough lift and saw that I would not clear [the] trees. So I pulled all power off and landed just before a pond which I slide into and rolled over onto the wings."

A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane at the Maple Grove Airport. The airplane's nose gear was bent aft. The lower firewall was bent aft. All three propeller blades were bent aft. The outboard 5 feet of the right wing was bent aft. The leading edge of the outboard 2 feet of the left wing was crushed inward. The aft fuselage showed numerous skin wrinkles. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the engine, engine controls and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies.

NTSB Probable Cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during landing. Factors relating to this accident were the misjudged flare, the exceeded proper touchdown point, the delayed go-around, the student pilot's improper in-flight decisions, and the pond.