# Accident 20200515004859A: Cessna 120, Chatham, IL, May 15, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 15, 2020, 15:20 local time
- Place: Chatham, IL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.7042° N, 89.7172° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7042&lon=-89.7172&mi=10
- Aircraft: N120MZ, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N120MZ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 120 (registry code 2071402, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-120) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C85 series (registry code 17008, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 120
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,875 total, 84 in this make and model, 105 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN20CA182](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA182) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200515004859A

## Narrative

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

ON MAY 15, 2020 AT APPROXIMATELY 15:20 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME (CDT), AN CESSNA 120 AIRCRAFT, N120MZ, REGISTERED TO AN INDIVIDUAL AND OPERATED BY A PRIVATE PILOT WITH A TAILWHEEL ENDORSEMENT, RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN IN A PRIVATE OWNED FARM FIELD, NORTH OF THE TOWN OF CHATHAM, IL.

THE FLIGHT WAS BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) PART 91 UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE CREVE COEUR AIRPORT (1H0) AND WAS GOING TO BE DIRECT TO THE SCHAUMBERG AIRPORT (06C).

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, SHE DEPARTED CREVE COEUR AIRPORT (1H0) AROUND 1415 WITH SUFFICIENT FUEL TO REACH HER DESTINATION, RECEIVED A CLASS B CLEARANCE, AND CLIMBED TO VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) ON TOP AT 5,500? MSL.  ACCORDING TO THE WEATHER BRIEFING SHE ACQUIRED, IT WOULD BE VFR AT HER DESTINATION WHEN SHE WAS DUE TO ARRIVE, WITH NO KNOWLEDGE OF OTHER CLOUD LAYERS ALONG THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT OTHER THAN THE BASE CEILING.  SOUTHWEST OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS AIRPORT (KSPI) SHE ENTERED INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC) AND TRIED TO FLY THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE INSTRUMENTS INSTALLED ON THE AIRCRAFT (NO ATTITUDE INDICATOR).  SHE TURNED ON CARBURETOR HEAT AND APPLIED FULL POWER TO INITIATE A CLIMB IN ORDER TO FIND VMC. SHORTLY AFTER, SHE RECOGNIZED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN A RIGHT HAND TURN AND TRIED TO CORRECT, BUT THE TURN WAS INCREASING AND REALIZED THAT SHE WAS EXPERIENCING SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. THEN SHE PERFORMED THE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS FOR A DESCENDING UNUSUAL ATTITUDE. SHE BROKE OUT IN VISUAL CONDITIONS, AT APPROXIMATELY 1,500 AGL OVER SEVERAL TREES, AND AT THIS TIME INCREASED THE THROTTLE AND BROUGHT THE AIRCRAFT BACK TO STRAIGHT AND LEVEL FLIGHT, BUT WAS HAVING ISSUES WITH KEEPING THE AIRCRAFT IN LEVEL FLIGHT AND WOULD NOT CLIMB. SHE THEN MADE THE DECISION TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT IN THE NEAREST FIELD AVAILABLE, DURING THE LANDING THE LANDING GEAR DUG INTO THE MUD, AND THE AIRCRAFT THEN FLIPPED ON ITS BACK.

THE AWOS WEATHER REPORT AT ABRAHAM LINCOLN CAPITAL AIRPORT (KSPI) AT 14:52 CDT WAS: WIND 190 DEGREES AT 05 KNOTS, VISIBILITY 10 STATUTE MILES, OVERCAST AT 3200 FEET AGL, FEW CLOUDS AT 1400 FEET AGL, TEMPERATURE 20 CELSIUS, DEW POINT 18 CELSIUS, AND ALTIMETER 2997.

## 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 CEN20CA182](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA182), May 15, 2020: Cessna 120 (N120MZ), Chatham, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to continue flight in instrument meteorological conditions in an airplane not equipped for instrument flight, which forced her to perform a precautionary landing to a muddy field…

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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