# Accident 19971119041229A: Cessna 172P, Salem, IN, November 19, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 19, 1997, 20:00 local time
- Place: Salem, IN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Initial Approach-IFR
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.6002° N, 86.0905° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6002&lon=-86.0905&mi=10
- Aircraft: N92042, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N92042-1998-09-02) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172M (registry code 2072418, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Reported engine: LYC O360A4M
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 265 total, 170 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI98LA040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA040) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971119041229A

## Narrative

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

DIVERTED TO 183 DUE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. IMPACTED SHORT OF RUNWAY AND BURNED.(.4) THE PILOT HAD TOPPED OFF THE FUEL AT EVANSVILLE, INDIANA, BEFORE CONTINUING ON TO WILMINGTON, OHIO. THE ALTERNATOR CIRCUIT BREAKER POPPED DURING CLIMB OUT AND HE RESET IT. AFTER FLYING APPROXIMATELY TWENTY MINUTES, THE PILOT SAW SMOKE CURLING FROM UNDER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. LOUISVILLE APPROACH GAVE THE PILOT RADAR VECTORS TO SALEM, INDIANA. THE PILOT ACTIVATED THE RUNWAY LIGHTS, BUT HE DID NOT TURN ON THE AIRPLANE'S LANDING LIGHTS. HE TRIED TO LOWER THE FLAPS, BUT THEY DID NOT OPERATE. HE REPORTED THAT HE THOUGHT HE WAS HIGH ENOUGH, BUT GOT TOO LOW, AND THE ARIPLANE HIT TREES. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST ABOUT 1,000 FEET EAST OF THE AIRPORT. THERE WERE INDICATIONS THAT THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING HAD IMPACTED A TREE, AND THE AIRPLANE HAD SPUN AROUND. BOTH PROPELLER BLADES HAD LEADING EDGE AND CHORDWISE SCRATCHING. THE AIRPLANE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS EXAMINED, BUT THE REASON FOR THE ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION WAS NOT DETERMINED. (-23) ON NOVEMBER 19, 1997, AT 2000 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, A CESSNA 172, N92042, WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND A                                 T THE SALEM MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, SALEM, INDIANA. THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED.  THE 14 CFR 91 FLIGHT HAD DEPARTED THE EVANSVILLE REGIONAL AIRPORT (EVV), EVANSVILLE, INDIANA, EN ROUTE TO THE AIRBORNE AIRPARK, WILMINGTON, OHIO.  THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND HAD DIVERTED TO THE SALEM MUNICIPAL AIRPORT TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. NIGHT VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND A VFR FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED.

## 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 CHI98LA040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA040), Nov 20, 1997: Cessna 172 (N92042), Salem, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's misjudgment of distance and altitude, while on final approach to land at night. Factors relating to the accident included: an undetermined electrical malfunction, inoperative flaps,…

## Other reports on N92042 (1)

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

- [Accident 19730812024819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730812024819A), Aug 12, 1973: Cessna 172M (N92042), NY, Substantial damage

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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