# NTSB CEN21LA127: Cessna 172N, N3477E, Prairie du Sac, WI, February 12, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 12, 2021, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Prairie du Sac, WI - Coordinates: 43.297731, -89.755693 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2977&lon=-89.7557&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 102632 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA127 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102632/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA127 ## 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. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 150 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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 172N, 82 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 81 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the takeoff roll, the airplane encountered compacted snow on the runway surface, and the airplane slid to the left. The pilot, a solo student, reduced the engine throttle and applied right rudder; however, the airplane continued to the left. The left main landing gear hit a snowbank on the side of the runway, the airplane spun, and the right wing hit the snowbank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. A Notice to Airman for the airport reported the field conditions as 100% compacted snow with the conditions not monitored. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3477E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3477E), registered now, S/N 17271563, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17271563 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 16163.4 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Morey Airplane Co Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 24, 2020 - Destination: C29, Middleton, WI - Airport: 91C, Sauk-Prairie, runway 18/36, 2,936 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 62 total, 62 in this make and model, 20.7 in the last 90 days, 6.1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 3 °F, dew point -8 °F - Altimeter: 30.46 inHg - Observed at: KLNR, 19 nm away - METAR: KLNR 122056Z AUTO 29009KT 10SM CLR M16/M22 A3046 RMK AO2 SLP330 T11561222 56009 ## 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 20210212005569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210212005569A), Feb 12, 2021: Cessna 172N, Prairie Du Sac, WI, Substantial damage. 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… ## Other investigations on N3477E (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 CEN24LA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA082), Jan 4, 2024: Cessna 172N (N3477E), Middleton, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll. 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.