# NTSB CHI00LA058: Cessna 172M, N12654, Liberal, KS, January 17, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 17, 2000, 00:15 local (06:15 UTC) - Place: Liberal, KS - Coordinates: 37.039089, -100.930816 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0391&lon=-100.9308&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 4 minor - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48484 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI00LA058 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48484/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA058 ## Probable cause the pilot not maintaining proper glidepath on the ILS approach, the pilot's improper decision to continue the approach below the glidepath, and the pilot's failure to perform a missed approach. Factors relating to the accident were the low ceiling and visibility, and the fog. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr) - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - missed approach - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (contributing factor) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot said that he received vectors from the Kansas City Center to the ILS approach for runway 35 at the Liberal Municipal Airport. Kansas City Center instructed the pilot to descend to 4,000 feet msl, and advise when established on the approach. The pilot advised center that he was on the approach. He said that Kansas City Center issued an altimeter of 30.21 inches Hg, which he set in the altimeter. The pilot said he saw the altimeter indication of 3,400 feet msl. 'The glide slope was indicating centered. The localizer was indication about 1 dot off. I began to correct to the right, and remember the altimeter indication [of] 3,300 feet msl, which was above decision height. The airplane struck the ground and turned hard to the right (about 90 degrees).' Examination of the wreckage revealed no anomalies. At 0035 cst, weather at Liberal, Kansas, was reported as overcast ceiling of 100 feet agl, 1/4 mile visibility, temperature 34 degrees F, winds 140 degrees at 5 knots, and altimeter 30.19 inches Hg. The pilot stated that the weather conditions on the ground was heavy ground fog. The ILS approach to runway 35 at the Liberal Municipal Airport has a published decision height of 3,074 feet msl. Published minimum weather minimums for the approach is a 200 foot ceiling and 1/2 mile visibility. ## Factual narrative On January 17, 2000, at 0015 central standard time, a Cessna 172M, N12654, operated by a commercial pilot sustained substantial damage when on ILS approach for runway 35 (7,101 feet by 150 feet, dry asphalt) at Liberal Municipal Airport, Liberal, Kansas, the airplane impacted the terrain, 1 mile south of the airport. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. An IFR flight plan was on file. The pilot and three passengers on board the airplane sustained minor injuries. The cross country flight originated at Denver, Colorado, and was en route to Liberal, Kansas. In his written statement, the pilot said that he received vectors from the Kansas City Air Route Traffic Control Center to the ILS approach for runway 35. The pilot said that Kansas City Center instructed him to descend to 4,000 feet msl, and advise when established on the approach. The pilot advised center that he was on the approach. He said that Kansas City Center issued an altimeter of 30.21 inches of Mercury (Hg), which he set in the altimeter. "AWOS reported 100 OVC (overcast) 1/4 [mile] visibility." The pilot said that he, and the student pilot/ passenger, sitting in the right seat, saw the altimeter indication of 3,400 feet msl. "The glide slope was indicating centered. The localizer was indication about 1 dot off. I began to correct to the right, and remember the altimeter indication [of] 3,300 feet msl, which was above decision height. The airplane struck the ground and turned hard to the right (about 90 degrees). Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors examined the wreckage at the accident site. The airplane rested upright in a wheat field, approximately 1 mile south of the Liberal Municipal Airport, and slightly left of the centerline for runway 35. The airplane's main wreckage was preceded by a ground scar which was located 291 feet to the south-southwest west. Numerous slices into the dirt were observed beginning at the first ground scar and proceeding along a 050 degree magnetic heading, toward the main wreckage, for approximately 53 feet. The airplane's right wing was bent upward. The empennage was broken downward and bent to the right. The airplane's propeller showed torsional bending, chordwise scratches, and curled tips. Flight control continuity was confirmed. Examination of the engine, engine accessories and controls, and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies. At 0035 cst, the Automatic Weather Observing Station (AWOS) at Liberal, Kansas, reported an overcast ceiling of 100 feet above ground level (agl), 1/4 mile visibility, temperature 34 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point not reported, winds 140 degrees at 5 knots, and altimeter 30.19 inches Hg. The pilot stated that the weather conditions on the ground was heavy ground fog. The ILS approach to runway 35 at the Liberal Municipal Airport has a published decision height of 3,074 feet msl. Published minimum weather required to fly the approach is a 200 foot ceiling and 1/2 mile visibility. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N12654](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N12654-2000-04-14), registration cancelled 2000-04-14, S/N 17262149 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172-62149 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Frank Leasing LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: APA, DENVER, CO - Destination: LBL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: LBL, Liberal Municipal Airport, runway 35, 7,101 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 858 total, 283 in this make and model, 694 as pilot in command, 51 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Wind: 140° at 5 knots - Visibility: 1 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 100 ft overcast - Temperature: 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LBL, 1 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 20000117004729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000117004729A), Jan 17, 2000: Cessna 172M, Liberal, KS, Substantial damage. (-23) On 01/17/2000 at about 00:15 CST, while on an ILS instrument approach, Cessna 172M, N12654, piloted by[privacy data omitted] and three passengers crashed… 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.