# Accident 19971005030049A: Cessna 172N, Sandwich, IL, October 5, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 5, 1997, 15:30 local time
- Place: Sandwich, IL
- Airport: Woodlake Landing Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.6396° N, 88.6204° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6396&lon=-88.6204&mi=10
- Aircraft: N73899, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N73899) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172N (registry code 2072434, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Reported engine: LYC O320H2AD
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,000 total, 300 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI98LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA005) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971005030049A

## Narrative

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

TOO MUCH WIND FOR 172. (.4)IN AN INTERVIEW, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE OBTAINED WEATHER INFORMATION FROM A TELEVISION BROADCAST PRIOR TO HIS PLANNED LOCAL FLIGHT.  THE WINDS WERE REPORTED OUT OF THE SOUTH AT 30 KNOTS WITH GUSTS.  THE PILOT SAID THAT WHILE TAXIING TO THE NORTH/SOUTH GRASS RUNWAY THE WINDS WERE STRONG, AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE SOUTHBOUND TAKEOFF IT BECAME 'GUSTY.'  HE OPTED TO STAY IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AND RE-LAND.  THE PILOT RECALLED THAT WHILE ON FINAL THE FLAPS WERE EXTENDED 'ONE NOTCH,' AND THE INDICATED AIRSPEED WAS 65 KNOTS.  AFTER REDUCING THE POWER TO IDLE JUST PRIOR TO THE FLARE, THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A WIND SHEAR.  HE SAID A GUST PITCHED THE AIRPLANE UP, THEN THE WIND ABRUPTLY STOPPED, CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO PITCH NOSE DOWN AND COLLIDE WITH THE RUNWAY.  THE NOSE GEAR SEPARATED FROM THE AIRFRAME AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER, COMING TO REST INVERTED.  IN AN INTERVIEW, THE RIGHT SEAT PASSENGER SAID THAT THE APPROACH SEEMED NORMAL.  THE AIRPLANE LEVELED OFF OVER THE RUNWAY, THEN FLOATED FOR A LITTLE BIT.  HE SAID THE AIRPLANE THEN QUICKLY NOSED UP THEN 'BANGED DOWN.'  HE RECALLS THE F                                                    LAPS EXTENDED 'ONE NOTCH' PRIOR TO IMPACT. NEITHER THE PILOT NOR THE PASSENGER REMEMBERS HEARING A STALL WARNING.                                    (-23) ON OCTOBER 05, 1997 AT OR ABOUT 15:00 HR. LOCAL TIME, IN CLEAR CONDITIONS WITH GUSTING WINDS, AT SANDWICH AIRPORT, SANDWICH IL. ROBERT G. SVATOS THE PIC AND OWNER OF A 1976 CE-172, N73899, SN.1726773, LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND.  THE PILOT STATED THAT, AFTER TAKE OFF, DURING CLIMB OUT FROM SANDWICH AIRPORT'S PAVED RUNWAY, HE DECIDED TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT DUE TO THE GUSTING WINDS.  ON THE FINAL APPROACH JUST BEFORE TOUCH DOWN THE WINDS CHANGED.  THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD ON THE NOSE WHEEL, SEPARATING THE WHEEL FROM THE STRUT AND THE STRUT FROM AIRCRAFT.  THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST UPSIDE DOWN ON THE GRASS RUNWAY AT SANDWICH AIRPORT.  ALL PERSONNEL IN THE AIRCRAFT PIC ROBERT G. SVATOS, PAX-1 AL CHICOLA, PAX-2 MATT CHICOLA EXITED THE AIRCRAFT SAFELY WITH NO INJURIES. THERE WAS NO FIRE AND DAMAGE WAS CONFINED TO THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 CHI98LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA005), Oct 5, 1997: Cessna 172N (N73899), Sandwich, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inability to maintain flying airspeed resulting in an inadvertent stall/mush. A factor contributing to this accident was the wind gust.

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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