# NTSB CEN12LA541: Cessna 177RG, N1564H, Litchfield, IL, August 11, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 11, 2012, 11:50 local (16:50 UTC) - Place: Litchfield, IL - Coordinates: 39.162498, -89.67472 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1625&lon=-89.6747&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 12, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Aviation - NTSB case key (mKey): 84662 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA541 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84662/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84662 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA541 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during the landing and the subsequent aborted landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177RG, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2073709), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177RG, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2073709), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177RG, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073709), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 177RG, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2073709), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Cessna 177RG, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2073709), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 177RG, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073709), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot aborted the landing after the airplane veered off the runway and was headed toward airport lighting equipment. However, the airplane stalled during the initial climb and impacted a bean field. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On August 11, 2012, at 1150 central daylight time, a Cessna 177RG, N1564H, impacted terrain during initial climb from an aborted landing on runway 36 at Litchfield Municipal Airport (3LF), Litchfield, Illinois. The private pilot received minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed for the flight that departed from St. Louis Regional Airport, Alton, Illinois, about 1130 and was en route to 3LF. The pilot stated that during landing, the airplane veered to the left and headed toward airport lighting equipment. The pilot performed an aborted landing, and during the initial climb, the airplane stalled and impacted trees. The airplane then landed on a bean field. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction/failure with the airplane at the time of the accident. The pilot's recommendation of how the accident could have been prevented was, "Better control upon landing [and] recognition of crosswind conditions." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1564H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1564H-2014-12-22), registration cancelled 2014-12-22, S/N 177RG0738, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 177RG (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Cessna 177RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177rg) (registry code 2073709) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1b6d) (registry code 41593, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 177RG0738 - Airframe hours: 5266 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Pilot - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 10, 2012 - Departed: ALN, Alton, IL - Destination: 3LF, Litchfield, IL - Airport: 3LF, Litchfield Municipal Airport, runway 36, 4,002 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 25, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 315 total, 118 in this make and model, 207 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: 3LF ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20120811015899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120811015899A), Aug 11, 2012: Cessna 177RG, Litchfield, IL, Substantial damage. While landing runway 36, the aircraft veered to the left. The pilot initiated a takeoff trying to miss runway lights. The aircraft stalled while trying to… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 31, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84662. 661 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 661 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397220&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.