# Accident 19990904027759A: Cessna 172D, South Wayne, WI, September 4, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 4, 1999, 12:18 local time
- Place: South Wayne, WI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.5608° N, 89.8793° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5608&lon=-89.8793&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2972U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2972U-2000-03-10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172D (registry code 2072410, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172D
- Reported engine: CONT O300*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 90 total, 161 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI99LA320](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA320) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990904027759A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON SEPTEMBER 4, 1999, AT 1218 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME (CDT), A CESSNA 172, N2972U, PILOTED BY A PRIVATE PILOT, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING A COLLISION WITH TREES AND TERRAIN WHILE APPROACHING A FIELD DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT REPORTED SERIOUS INJURIES.  THE 14 CFR PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS NOT OPERATING ON A FLIGHT PLAN.  THE FLIGHT DEPARTED APPLE RIVER, ILLINOIS, AT 1130 CDT. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE AIRPLANE WAS FLYING ABOUT 2,000 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL WHEN ITS ENGINE STARTED MISSING.  HE SAID SHORTLY AFTER THE ENGINE BEGAN MISSING IT MADE A LOUD BANG AND STOPPED RUNNING.  THE PILOT SAID HE PICKED A FIELD FOR THE FORCED LANDING AND REALIZED THE AIRPLANE WAS TOO HIGH TO LAND IN THAT FIELD.  HE SAID HE CHOSE ANOTHER FIELD AND TURNED TOWARD IT.  WHILE ON APPROACH TO THAT FIELD THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES AND THE GROUND, ACCORDING TO THE PILOT. LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL RESPONDING TO THE ACCIDENT SAID THEY OBSERVED ABOUT 10 GALLONS OF FUEL IN ONE OF AIRPLANES' WING TANKS.  THE ON-SCENE LAW ENFORCEMENT SUPERVISOR SAID HE ALSO SMELLED FUEL AND  SAW IT DRIPPING FROM THE OTHER WING. (-23)PILOT EXPERIENCED COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE IN FLIGHT.  ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN FIELD.  A/C STRUCK TOPS OF SEVERAL TREES DURING LANDING PHASE.  CAME TO REST ON CORN FIELD INVERTED.

## 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 CHI99LA320](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA320), Sep 4, 1999: Cessna 172D (N2972U), South Wayne, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's improper selection of an emergency field and failure to maintain clearance from the trees. The cause of the loss of engine power was not determined.

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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