N6542H is a 1975 Cessna 172M. It is a fixed-wing single-engine aircraft with 4 seats, powered by a Lycoming 0-320 series rated at 180 horsepower. The registration is active, with the registrant based in Lafayette, LA. Its standard airworthiness certificate was issued in Jun 1975. It has been registered to its current owner since Aug 2017. This page also carries 1 NTSB event.
- 51 years old
- 1 of 3,726 Cessna 172M
2017
1975
That's everything on file so far — TailWiki checks the FAA registry daily and adds new entries as N6542H's record changes.
The pilot reported that he was departing on a night instrument flight rules (IFR) cross country flight, back to the airport where the airplane was based. He rotated at 55 knots and when he “started to pull back at 100 ft felt an aggressive yaw to the left.” He applied right rudder, but was unable to correct for the yaw, and the airplane impacted trees to the left of the runway resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and both wings.
The pilot stated that before departure he requested the fixed base operator (FBO) add fuel to bring the total onboard to 32 gallons; however, a review of fuel records showed the airplane was fueled with 27.7 gallons of 100LL aviation fuel which filled the wing fuel tanks completely. The airplane had a total fuel capacity of 42 gallons with 38 gallons usable. With the wing fuel tanks full, the pilot, and 3 passengers, the airplane would be overweight, so the pilot decided to drain some fuel. He reported draining 4 gallons of fuel which would bring the total usable fuel to 34 gallons. He then called clearance delivery to obtain his IFR clearance and advised them he would need 30 minutes on the ground to burn more fuel. He subsequently shut the airplane down and measured the amount of fuel using a dipstick, which showed 32 gallons. He then completed another external preflight using the airplane checklist, restarted the airplane, and requested taxi instructions. A review of air traffic control communications showed that 17 minutes had elapsed from the time the pilot called for his IFR clearance to when he requested taxi instructions.
The pilot provided a copy of the airplane weight and balance which showed the total amount of fuel onboard of 30 gallons. Based on the received weight and balance information and the unclear amount of fuel onboard, it is likely that the airplane was at or above its maximum takeoff weight.
A postaccident examination of the airframe revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The aggressive left yaw the pilot experienced was likely a result of the airplane entering an aerodynamic stall.
No photos yet. Sign in to add the first one.
About the Cessna 172M
About the modelA Skyhawk of the mid-production era, four-seat and high-wing with a fixed tricycle gear. Among the most numerous variants on the US registry, and a mainstay of flight schools and private owners alike.