Four Case Western Students Killed in 172 Crash

RIP. I hate how the local news found a "20" year pilot to immediate say a 172 has 4 seats but usually never put 4 people in it. 8(
 
"WILLOUGHBY HILLS, Ohio -- The plane that crashed Monday night near the Cuyahoga County Airport was having trouble ascending and was attempting to turn back to land when it crashed, the National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday."

What a damn shame. Their poor families. Terrible. RIP.
 
ComplexHiAv8r said:
RIP. I hate how the local news found a "20" year pilot to immediate say a 172 has 4 seats but usually never put 4 people in it. 8(
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There is some truth to that though. Personally, I would never do it, but that's just me. Is it bad that my first thought when I saw there were 4 adults in a 172 was "yikes" before even reading that a witness explained the airplane seemed to have a hard time climbing?
 
SeanD said:
There is some truth to that though. Personally, I would never do it, but that's just me. Is it bad that my first thought when I saw there were 4 adults in a 172 was "yikes" before even reading that a witness explained the airplane seemed to have a hard time climbing?
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I've had 3 others with me no probs. it's just W&B. My understanding thus wasn't the first takeoff. I also think that plane had the 180hp update. I had time in it but don't remember.
 
ComplexHiAv8r said:
I've had 3 others with me no probs. it's just W&B. My understanding thus wasn't the first takeoff. I also think that plane had the 180hp update. I had time in it but don't remember.
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I've had 3, 20ish, smaller women with me in a 172, but that was with minimal fuel, all w&b/performance checked with the density alt., and an 180HP engine. Unless upgraded afterwards, all "R" model 172s are 160hp and have very poor high density altitude performance, even under gross weight.

Very sad to see these young men die, I hope their families find closure.
 
SeanD said:
There is some truth to that though. Personally, I would never do it, but that's just me. Is it bad that my first thought when I saw there were 4 adults in a 172 was "yikes" before even reading that a witness explained the airplane seemed to have a hard time climbing?
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That was my first thought as well. If I recall there's about 54 gallons if full - 324 or so lbs. 4 college kids say 150 per (maybe) 600 lbs so 924 lbs....I know thats likely not there weight but even if they were even slightly less you'd ahev to be damn near max weight....And just because something works once doesnt mean its smart....

Could they have had less fuel... Sure....But there is no way in hell I could get 4 adults into that and takeoff......

Took my two boys once to St Cloud and told my wife she couldnt go this time because of weight....Didnt go so well.
 
JEP said:
That was my first thought as well. If I recall there's about 54 gallons if full - 324 or so lbs. 4 college kids say 150 per (maybe) 600 lbs so 924 lbs....I know thats likely not there weight but even if they were even slightly less you'd ahev to be damn near max weight....And just because something works once doesnt mean its smart....

Could they have had less fuel... Sure....But there is no way in hell I could get 4 adults into that and takeoff......

Took my two boys once to St Cloud and told my wife she couldnt go this time because of weight....Didnt go so well.
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I had 3 adults in a Warrior once in decent spring weather and it pretty much sucked.
 
Finny said:
Unless upgraded afterwards, all "R" model 172s are 160hp and have very poor high density altitude performance, even under gross weight.
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My 2004 C-172R left the factory with 160HP, but was upgraded at last O/H to 180HP. Taking it into KCOS or KSAF in warm weather before the upgrade - just the little wife & me and a change of sox for the weekend - was a little more unpleasant than I'd prefer.
 
jskibo said:
Me, @ozziecat35 , my 15 year old daughter and her suitcase along with full tanks leaving KSUS was a real slow climb out in a C177B in the summer.
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God that thing would not climb. Hot and humid, convective, plus the bad chicken salad sandwich doing battle in my lower intestine did not make for a pleasant trip

Yeah I'm not one to monday morning QB, but when I saw this story earlier, first thing I thought was "4 college dudes in a 172?"

Heck, my survey platform solo is a pig. (Cherokee 140)
 
A friend just put the high-comp pistons and the tuned exhaust on his 172 — thing has so much more power he had to re-pitch the prop. Fuel consumption is unchanged (because high compression engines have higher combustion efficiency).
 
JEP said:
That was my first thought as well. If I recall there's about 54 gallons if full - 324 or so lbs. 4 college kids say 150 per (maybe) 600 lbs so 924 lbs....I know thats likely not there weight but even if they were even slightly less you'd ahev to be damn near max weight....And just because something works once doesnt mean its smart....

Could they have had less fuel... Sure....But there is no way in hell I could get 4 adults into that and takeoff......

Took my two boys once to St Cloud and told my wife she couldnt go this time because of weight....Didnt go so well.
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Out 172 has 890 lbs useful load. So using your numbers, take out 6 gallons and your good and still have 5 hours of fuel. We do 135 scenic flights all the time with 4 people in it. Its not like you need 5.5 hours of fuel every flight.

We can barely do full fuel and 4 people in a Twin Cessna 340. But for some reason when someone sees 4 people in a 172 they automatically think your overweight.
 
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