# NTSB CEN22LA120: Cessna 172N, N737SY, Murphysboro, IL, February 12, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: February 12, 2022, 17:57 local (23:57 UTC)
- Place: Murphysboro, IL
- Coordinates: 37.76515, -89.248861
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7651&lon=-89.2489&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104637
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA120
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104637/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104637
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA120

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines during approach for landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md)
- [Light condition: low light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel; cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036015/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 134 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings during a solo instructional flight at the time of the accident. She completed 7 landings without incident, and the accident approach was to be the final landing. The pilot reported that the runway was in sight, but she did not see the power lines. The airplane hit the lines and subsequently impacted the ground below the lines. The airframe sustained damage to the fuselage and left wing. According to the pilot, there were no failures or malfunctions associated with the airplane before the accident. The accident occurred about 24 minutes after sunset and about 3 minutes before the end of civil twilight. The runway was equipped with Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) system. An inspection of the system after the accident revealed that it was operating normally at that time.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N737SY](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N737SY-2022-08-13), registration cancelled 2022-08-13, S/N 17269650, built 1977 (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: 17269650
- Year built: 1977
- Airframe hours: 8800.8
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Southern Illinois Airport Authority
- Registered owner: Southern Illinois Airport Authority
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, November 16, 2021, 83.8 hours before
- Departed: MDH, Murphysboro, IL
- Destination: MDH, Murphysboro, IL
- Airport: MDH, Southern Illinois, runway 36R, 6,506 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 19; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 8, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 76 total, 76 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.39 inHg
- Observed at: MDH, 0.81 nm away

## 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 20220212008889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220212008889A), Feb 12, 2022: Cessna 172N, Carbondale, IL, Substantial damage. Narrative: Student pilot arrived at airport at 4:40 p.m., received flight folder and spoke to instructor. Flight plan was changed from a dual solo to a solo…

## Other investigations on N737SY (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 CEN14CA457](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA457), Jul 16, 2014: Cessna 172N (N737SY), Murphysboro, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A hard landing by person(s) unknown.

## Docket (8 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 18, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104637. 24.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 19.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13373364&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Rpt%20--%20CEN22LA120_redacted-Rel.pdf
- Accident photos (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13374332&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20--%20CEN22LA120-Rel.pdf
- ATC communications summary (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 310 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13373241&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ATC%20Communications%20Summary%20--%20CEN22LA120-Rel.pdf
- Maintenance records (excerpt) (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13374508&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20--%20N737SY%20(Excerpt)_redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA chart supplement -- kmdh (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13373869&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Chart%20Supplement%20--%20MDH%20(27Jan2022)-Rel.pdf
- Weather observations -- kmdh (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 287 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13376221&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Surface%20Weather%20Observations%20--%20KMDH_12Feb2022_redacted-Rel.pdf
- Sun and moon data -- murphysboro, IL (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 178 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13374994&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Sun-Moon%20Data%20--%20Murphysboro_IL%20--%2012Feb2022-Rel.pdf
- Conversation summary -- FAA tech ops (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 130 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13382535&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20--%20FAATechOps_RickCarroll%20--%2008Mar2022-Rel.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.

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