# Accident 20210212005569A: Cessna 172N, Prairie Du Sac, WI, February 12, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 12, 2021, 15:45 local time
- Place: Prairie Du Sac, WI
- Airport: Sauk-Prairie
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.2977° N, 89.7557° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2977&lon=-89.7557&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3477E, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3477E) (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: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 45 total, 45 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN21LA127](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA127) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210212005569A

## Narrative

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

ON FEBRUARY 13, 2021 AT 1545 CENTRAL TIME N3477E A CE-172-N RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AFTER COLLIDING WITH A  SNOWBANK WHILE ON TAKEOFF ROLL ON RUNWAY 36 AT SAUK PRAIRIE AIRPORT (91C) PRAIRIE DU SAC, WISCONSIN. THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON A SOLO FLIGHT FROM MIDDLETON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (C29), MIDDLETON, WISCONSIN AND FLEW TO 91C TO PRACTICE TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. THE PILOT LANDED ON THE SNOW/ ICE COVERED RUNWAY 36 BACK TAXIED AND WAS ON THE TAKEOFF ROLL WHEN THE AIRCRAFT START TO SLIDE TO THE LEFT. THE LEFT WHEEL HIT A SNOWBANK ON THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO SPIN 90 DEGREES AND HAVING THE PROP AND LEFT WING IMPACT THE SNOWBANK. THE WINDS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE 320 @ 12 KNOTS.

## 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 CEN21LA127](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA127), Feb 12, 2021: Cessna 172N (N3477E), Prairie du Sac, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s loss of directional control during takeoff, which resulted in the collision with a snowbank. Contributing to the accident was the compacted snow conditions on the runway surface.

## Other reports on N3477E (1)

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

- [Accident 20240104003709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240104003709A), Jan 4, 2024: Cessna 172N (N3477E), Middleton, WI, Substantial damage. During the takeoff roll the pilot stated that just before rotation the aircraft pulled hard left and when he was unable to gain directional control the pilot…

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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