# Accident 19970215001679A: Cessna 172M, Oconto, WI, February 15, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 15, 1997, 04:30 local time
- Place: Oconto, WI
- Airport: Oconto Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.8896° N, 87.8596° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8896&lon=-87.8596&mi=10
- Aircraft: N61914, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61914-2012-10-31) (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
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI97TA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97TA070) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970215001679A

## Narrative

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

ON TAKE OFF ROLL FROM RUNWAY, RIGHT TIRE HIT A FINGER DRIFT AND PULLED AIRCRAFT INTO A SNOWBANK AND FLIPPED OVER. (-23) ON FEBRUARY 15, 1997, AT 0430AM, CESSNA 172M, N61914, COMMENCED A TAKE-OFF FROM RWY 11, OCONTO MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, OCONTO, WISCONSIN, ON A 14CFR91 FLIGHT WITH VMC PREVAILING.  AT APPROXIMATELY ROTATION SPEED THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR IMPACTED A FINGER SHAPED SNOW DRIFT PROTRUDING FROM THE RIGHT EDGE OF THE RUNWAY.  UPON IMPACT THE LEFT WING TIP OF THE AIRCRAFT DROPPED CONTACTING THE SURFACE OF THE PAVEMENT WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRCRAFT TURNING APPROXIMATELY 180 DEGREES, ROLLING OVER LONGITUDINALLY, AND COMING TO REST ON TOP OF THE FUSELAGE IN A SNOW DRIFT ALONG THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY.  THE PILOT WAS THE ONLY PERSON ON BOARD AND SUSTAINED NO INJURIES.  INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING AND SPAR, SUDDEN STOPPAGE OF THE ENGINE, CURLED TIPS ON BOTH PROPELLER BLADES, MINOR DAMAGE TO THE TOP OF THE VERTICAL STABILIZER, AND A SMALL BUCKLE (DENT) IN THE LEFT REAR FUSELAGE AREA DIRECTLY AFT OF THE BAGGAGE DOOR.

## 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 CHI97TA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97TA070), Feb 15, 1997: Cessna 172 (N61914), Oconto, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: the failure of the pilot to maintain proper runway alignment and thus clearance with the snow drifts during takeoff. A factor was the distance the snow drifts extended past the runway edge.

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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