# Accident 20160430003499A: Cessna 140A, Belvidere, IL, April 30, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 30, 2016, 03:00 local time
- Place: Belvidere, IL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.3233° N, 88.9267° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3233&lon=-88.9267&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4242H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4242H) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 140A (registry code 2071604, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C90 series (registry code 17009, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 140A
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR C90 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 207 total, 80 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA16CA212](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA212) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160430003499A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT OF N4242H STATED THAT HE DEPARTED COTTONWOOD AIRPORT (1C8) AT APPROXIMATELY 3:00AM LOCAL ON A PLEASURE FLIGHT TO POPLAR GROVE AIRPORT (C77) TO PRACTICE NIGHT TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS ON A HARD-SURFACE RUNWAY, AS COTTONWOOD AIRPORT IS A GRASS RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE THOUGHT HE WAS AT TRAFFIC PATTERN ALTITUDE FOR POPLAR GROVE AIRPORT WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO IMPACT ?SOMETHING? BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES BEFORE COMING TO REST IN A TREE APPROXIMATELY 4-5 MILES WEST OF C77. C77 IS 13.5 NAUTICAL MILES EAST OF 1C8. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE CLIMBED OUT OF THE AIRPLANE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD AND DOWN THE TREES BEFORE CALLING HIS GIRLFRIEND TO PICK HIM UP AND DRIVE HIM HOME. THE PILOT REPORTED THE ACCIDENT AT APPROXIMATELY 17:00 LOCAL TIME.

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT DETECT ANY MECHANICAL IRREGULARITIES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

WHEN ASKED, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD MADE THE DECISION TO CONDUCT A NIGHT FLIGHT ABOUT FOUR HOURS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, WHICH WOULD BE AROUND 23:00 LOCAL TIME. THE PILOT BELIEVED TO HAVE SET HIS ALTIMETER TO COTTONWOOD AIRPORT?S FIELD ELEVATION PRIOR TO DEPARTING FROM COTTONWOOD AIRPORT. THE PILOT ALSO STATED THAT HIS TRANSPONDER WAS TURNED ON FOR THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT DOES NOT HAVE A PANEL BACKLIGHT TO ILLUMINATE THE INSTRUMENTS AND THAT HE WAS USING A HEADLAMP TO VIEW THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE PILOT ALSO STATED THAT THE LANDING LIGHT WAS NOT IN USE AS HE BELIEVED TO BE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT THE TIME, AND THAT HIS VISUAL REFERENCES DID NOT LEAD HIM TO BELIEVE THAT HE WAS IN A DESCENT.

POST-ACCIDENT PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE PILOT OF N4242H INDICATE THAT THE AIRCRAFT?S ALTIMETER WAS SET APPROXIMATELY TO COTTONWOOD?S FIELD ELEVATION.

## 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 GAA16CA212](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA212), Apr 30, 2016: Cessna 140 (N4242H), Poplar Grove, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's visual disorientation and failure to monitor the altimeter during a night approach, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.

## Other reports on N4242H (1)

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

- [Incident 19820829048359I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820829048359I), Aug 29, 1982: Cessna 140A (N4242H), Laporte City, IA, Minor damage. Overshot runway on landing. Ran into a ditch and overturned. Possible windshift. Thunderstorms nearby.

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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