(John Clear) wrote in news:fc2bbc$9gj$1
@reader1.panix.com:

In article ,
Judah wrote:
wrote in news:1189382647.136590.257600
:

Four, 30 somethings males + 4 sets of golf clubs (off to play on the
Cape) + 90+F + humidity + ? in a 172M. EAA fly in going on at the

How much, exactly, did each of the 30-something males weigh?

How much fuel was aboard the plane?

Using FAA standard 170 pound passengers, 50 pounds for the golf
clubs (probably way low) and just 20 gallons of fuel, and the W&B
numbers from a 172M I'm familiar with, I calculate the weight to
be just over MGTW, and the CG to be towards the aft end of the
envelope.

Even if the passengers where FAA standard 170 pounders, the golf
clubs likely weighed more, and there was likely more then the bare
minimum of fuel on board.

Your entire theory is based on speculations, though.

For example, it was reported that the flight was destined for Cape Cod. In
a 172, 20 gallons should have been enough even with proper reserves.

I have never met an "FAA Standard Passenger". So the weights of the
passengers could have been more or less than what you described.

The link below represents an example of a Cessna 172M that has a useful
load of 885lbs. The total weight that you described in your example is
850lb, quite a bit below the 885 listed here. So your argument is faulty.

http://www.bordenflyingclub.com/cmqperformance.shtml

Weight & Balance could have been an issue, sure. But it could also have NOT
been the issue.