# Accident 19960305003529A: Cessna 172M, Valparaiso, IN, March 5, 1996 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: March 5, 1996, 16:00 local time - Place: Valparaiso, IN - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Scud Running - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 41.4700° N, 87.0503° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4700&lon=-87.0503&mi=10 - Aircraft: N21662, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N21662-1998-03-26) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Cessna 172M (registry code 2072418, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M - Reported engine: LYC O320E2D - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 194 total, 193 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI96LA103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA103) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960305003529A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. E PARTED VFR INTO LOW CEILING FOG AND ICING. AIRFRAME ICED UP. NOSED OVER ON HIGH SPEED LANDING IN MUDDY FIELD. (-23) ON MARCH 5, 1996, ABOUT 1600 CENTRAL STANDARD TIME, A CESSNA 172, N21662, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT NOSED OVER DURING A FORCED LANDING I VALPARAISO, INDIANA. THE PRIVATE PILOT REPORTED NO INJURIES. THE PERSONAL, 14 CFR PART 91 FLIGHT DEPARTED CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ABOUT 1530 WITH A PLANNED DESTINATION OF HAMILTON, OHIO. INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE ACCIDENT SITE AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE PILOT RECEIVED A PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING FROM KANKAKEE FLIGHT SERVICE STATION. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE BRIEFER REPORTED CEILINGS FROM 700 TO 2,000 FEET, VISIBILITIES OF ONE TO SEVEN MILES WITH RAIN AND FOG, AND REPORTED ICING IN CLOUDS NEAR HIS PLANNED ROUTE OF FLIGHT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE EXPERIENCED PRECIPITATION AND AIRFRAME ICING DURING CRUISE. HE PULLED THE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL TO THE ON POSITION, THEN DESCENDED TO AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET AGL TO MAINTAIN VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. HE SAID ABOUT 1/8 INCH OF ICE HAD FORMED ON THE AIRPLANE AFTER WHICH HE REVERSED COURS E BACK TO PORTER COUNTY IN AN ATTEMPT TO LOCATE AN AIRPORT TO LAND. THE FLIGHT CONTROLS FELT "SLUGGISH" SO HE PUSHED THE THROTTLE TO FULL POWER BUT WAS ONLY ABLE TO MAINTAIN AN AIRSPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 80 KNOTS. THE PILOT REPORTED THE ENGINE APPEARED TO BE OPERATING "NORMALLY." HE THEN SELECTED A FIELD, CONFIGURED THE AIRPLANE, AND ATTEMPTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING. DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT HYDROPLANED ON THE MUDDY FIELD UNTIL THE NOSE GEAR SANK INTO THE MUD THEN SHEARED OFF. THIS CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO FLIP OVER ONTO ITS BACK. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE NOSE GEAR STRUT WAS FRACTURED AT THE FIREWALL MOUNT AND THE YOLK. THE UPPER LEADING EDGE OF BOTH WINGS WAS CRUSHED AND THE TOP OF THE VERTICAL STABILIZER AND RUDDER WAS CRUSHED IN THE DOWNWARD DIRECTION. EXAMINATION OF FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THE ENGINE CONTROLS FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE ENGINE ROTATED FREELY AND THE PROPELLER EXHIBITED MINOR BENDING AT THE TIPS. ONE BLADE WAS BENT FORWARD AND THE OTHER BLADE WAS BENT AFT. USABLE FUEL REMAINED IN BOTH FUEL TANKS. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB CHI96LA103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA103), Mar 5, 1996: Cessna 172 (N21662), Valparaiso, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's continued flight into adverse weather. Factors were the low ceilings, icing conditions, airframe ice, and the muddy field. ## Other reports on N21662 (2) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 19910704025799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910704025799A), Jul 4, 1991: Cessna 172M (N21662), Millville, OH, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel near destination. Landing in a parking lot struck fence. - [Accident 19830927073609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830927073609A), Sep 27, 1983: Cessna 172M (N21662), Kansas City, MO, Substantial damage. Collided with a sign while taxiing to the ramp. Made a turn off taxiway onto a service road by mistake. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.