# NTSB CEN20CA182: Cessna 120, N120MZ, Chatham, IL, May 15, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 15, 2020, 15:20 local (20:20 UTC) - Place: Chatham, IL - Coordinates: 39.704166, -89.717224 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7042&lon=-89.7172&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 101294 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA182 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101294/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101294 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA182 ## 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 resulting in the airplane nosing over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Terrain: wet/muddy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md) - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: clouds](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035025/cases.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035025/cases.md) - [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 120, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was conducting a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country flight at 5,500 ft mean sea level (MSL) above a cloud layer, and the airplane was not equipped with an attitude indicator or flight instruments to operate in instrument meteorological conditions. According to the pilot, the weather was forecast VFR at her destination. While en route, a cloud layer above her started lowering, so she descended to 5,000 ft MSL. The pilot could see blue sky between the layers when the two layers started to come together and then she inadvertently entered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). The pilot transitioned to an "inside instrument scan", turned on carburetor heat, and added full power to attempt to climb to find VFR conditions. After climbing 300 to 500 ft and about 5 minutes after entering the clouds, the pilot noticed a right turn had developed as confirmed on the heading indicator and her electronic flight device. The right turn became tighter, and the pilot recognized she was disoriented, and the airplane was descending. She elected to perform corrective action for a nose low unusual attitude and attempted to descend to visual flight conditions. The airplane broke out of the clouds about 1,500 ft above the ground (AGL) in a 25° to 30° right bank and 10° to 15° nose low attitude. The pilot recovered to level flight and added full power. The airplane would not accelerate above 60 to 65 knots in level flight and the pilot felt the rudder was ineffective. The pilot elected to conduct a precautionary landing to nearby field that was muddy due to recent rains. During the landing, the airplane flipped over when the wheels dug into the ground. The vertical stabilizer, rudder, and both wings sustained substantial damage. Examination of the airplane revealed flight control continuity to all flight control surfaces. The pilot reported that the airplane was operating normally prior to entering IMC conditions.. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N120MZ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N120MZ), registered now, S/N 9226, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 120 (No Series) - Registry model: [Cessna 120](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-120) (registry code 2071402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 9226 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 2675 - Engines: Continental C85 SERIES 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 17, 2019, 28 hours before - Departed: 1H0, St Louis, MO - Destination: 06C, Chicago, IL - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 7, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,868 total, 92 in this make and model, 1,178 as pilot in command, 117 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg ## 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 20200515004859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200515004859A), May 15, 2020: Cessna 120, Chatham, IL, Substantial damage. 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… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 31, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101294. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485647&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485648&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485649&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Photos (item 4, .PDF, 454 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485650&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.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.