# Accident 19970208001359A: Cessna 172M, West Chicago, IL, February 8, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 8, 1997, 15:15 local time
- Place: West Chicago, IL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.8807° N, 88.2206° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8807&lon=-88.2206&mi=10
- Aircraft: N13611, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N13611) (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 O320*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 79 total, 78 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI97LA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA068) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970208001359A

## Narrative

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

ENGINE PROBLEMS AFTER TAKEOFF, ATTEMPTED TO LAND, TOO HIGH, WENT AROUND, LANDED IN CORN FIELD , HIT TREES. (.19) ON FEBRUARY 8, 1997, AT 1515 CENTRAL STANDARD TIME, A CESSNA 172, N13611,  OPERATED BY SHAMROCK AVIATION, LTD., SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT IMPACTED TREES DURING A FORCED LANDING IN WEST CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.  THE PRIVATE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER REPORTED NO INJURIES.  THE LOCAL, PERSONAL FLIGHT ORIGINATED ABOUT 1513 AND WAS CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.(.4) THE PILOT REPORTED THAT `NOTHING WAS ABNORMAL' DURING THE TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 33. AT AN ALTITUDE OF 500 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, THE ENGINE `BEGAN TO RUN ROUGHLY AND LOSE POWER.' HE `TURNED BACK TOWARD THE FIELD, ESTABLISHED BEST GLIDE, AND CALLED THE TOWER.' HE CHECKED THE ENGINE CONTROLS. HE REPORTED THAT HE FELT HEAT ON HIS LEGS AND SMELLED `SOMETHING HOT'. NO SMOKE OR FLAMES WERE VISIBLE. HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON RUNWAY 19L BUT `EXCESS ALTITUDE, AIRSPEED, AND A DOWNWIND APPROACH MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE... .' HE ADVANCED THE THROTTLE TO FULL WHICH `RESULTED IN ALMOST NO ACCELERATION.' THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE ELECTED TO LAND IN A FARM      FIELD SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT. HE CONDUCTED A SOFT FIELD LANDING. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A ROW OF TREES AND BUSHEDS `AT THE END OF THE FIELD.' EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED ENGINE CONTROLS WERE INTACT. FUEL SAMPLES EXHIBITED NO EVIDENCE OF CONTAMINATION. THE ENGINE OPERATED NORMALLY DURING A WARM UP, RUN UP, AND A FULL POWER TEST RUN. (-23) AIRCRAFT HAD DEPARTED RUNWAY 33 AT DUPAGE AIRPORT, WEST CHICAGO, IL.  WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH AT APPROXIMATELY 1000 FT MSC.  AFTER DECLINING RUNWAYS 10 AND 19R PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON 19L BUT WAS TOO HIGH.  LANDED IN A CORN FIELD 2 MILE SOUTH OF AIRPORT.  AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AS IT IMPACTED SOME TREES.  THERE WAS NO FIRE NOR INJURIES.  FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY PROBLEMS.  ENGINE WAS OPERATED SATISFACTORILY.

## 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 CHI97LA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA068), Feb 8, 1997: Cessna 172 (N13611), West Chicago, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of power for undetermined reasons.

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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