# Incident 19940212009879I: Cessna 172M, Ellsworth, WI, February 12, 1994

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 12, 1994, 12:20 local time
- Place: Ellsworth, WI
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.7362° N, 92.4802° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ellsworth, WI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7362&lon=-92.4802&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9026H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9026H-2005-09-21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172M (registry code 2072418, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Reported engine: LYC O320E2D
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,400 total, 1,500 in this make and model
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940212009879I

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

NARRATIVE: ON 02-12-94 AT APPROXIMATELY 1200 HOURS, WHILE ON A PLEASURE FLIGHT, MR. BERNARD J. MEACHAM EXPERIENCED A GROUND WHITE OUT CONDITION, WHILE OPERATING HIS AIRCRAFT AT APPROXIMATELY 100' OVER THE NE PART OF LAKE PEPIN, MN. MR. MEACHAM WAS OPERATING A CE-172-M, N9026H, ON A TEST FLIGHT AFTER HAVING LOCATED AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT HAD PLAGUED THE AIRCRAFT SINCE HE PURCHASED IT NEW. MR. MEACHAM IS BASED IN ELLSWORTH, WI. HE WAS CONDUCTING THE TEST FLIGHT AT A VERY LOW ATTITUDE OVER AN UNINHABITED AREA OF THE SNOW COVERED FROZEN LAKE. MR. MEACHAM'S ATTENTION WAS INSIDE THE AIRCRAFT WHILE HE WAS VERIFYING, WITH A VOLT METER, THAT THE BATTERY WAS PROPERLY CHARGING. HE WAS VERY EXCITED THAT HE HAD SOLVED A BATTERY CHARGING PROBLEM. MR. MEACHAM STATES THAT HE REMEMBERS TRIMMING HIS AIRCRAFT UP SLIGHTLY JUST BEFORE THE INCIDENT. HE STATED THAT HE REALIZED HE HAD A PROBLEM WHEN HE LOOKED OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT AND ALL HE COULD SEE WAS WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS "A WHITE OUT CONDITION". HIS FIRST THOUGHT WAS TO TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT, THINKING HE HAD FLOWN INTO A SNOW SQUALL. IT WAS AT THIS TIME, HE STATED, THAT THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED INTO THE SNOW COVERED FROZEN LAKE WITH POWER (2200 RPM). HE WAS SO LOW THAT HE HAD LOST HIS REFERENCE TO THE HORIZON. THE LAKE IS A VERY LARGE LAKE ALLOWING HIM TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE HORIZON AT A LOW ALTITUDE. MR. MEAHCAM'S AIRCRAFT RECEIVED MINOR DAMAGE. HE RECEIVED A MINOR CUT ON HIS FACE, BUT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. HE WAS NOT USING HIS SHOULDER HARNESS. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^

## Other reports on N9026H (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19970827024939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970827024939A), Aug 27, 1997: Cessna 172M (N9026H), Portage, WI, Substantial damage. Aircraft engine failed shortly after takeoff and made emergency landing on highway. (-23) Cessna 172, N9026H sustained substantial damage after departing…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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