# NTSB CHI00LA168: Cessna 172M, N6557H, Decatur, IL, June 18, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 18, 2000, 17:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Decatur, IL - Coordinates: 39.850093, -88.930168 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8501&lon=-88.9302&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 6, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49475 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI00LA168 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49475/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA168 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the T-hangar while taxiing. A Factor associated with the accident was the pilot's attention was diverted to an other airplane which was taxiing on the same taxi line in the opposite direction. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - object - hangar/airport building - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The student pilot was taxing from the runway to the south ramp when the accident occurred. The accident airplane was traveling north on a taxi line and another airplane was taxing to the south on the same line. The accident pilot stated that when it looked as is the other airplane wasn't going to stop, he moved off the line to give way. The pilot stated his left wing contacted the T-hangar as he was looking at and trying to maintain clearance with the other airplane. ## Factual narrative On June 18, 2000, at 1715 central daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N6557H, operated by a student pilot collided with a T-hangar while taxiing on the ramp at the Decatur Airport, Decatur, Illinois. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 solo instructional flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The pilot reported that he was cleared for takeoff on runway 36 when he requested a clearance to taxi back to the south T-hangars because he suspected a problem with the airplane's engine. The pilot reported the tower instructed him to taxi on runway 36 to the midfield taxiway. He stated that about 1/3 the way down the runway he was instructed to turn around and back taxi to the taxiway he was originally on. The pilot reported that as he entered the taxiway he noticed another airplane near the Aeroclub office. He reported that as he continued north to the ramp the other airplane began taxiing to the south on the same taxi line that he was on. He stated he thought the other airplane was going to stop, but it did not. The pilot stated, "...I gave up the yellow line and moved to the left not knowing whether he was going to continue moving toward the taxiway or stop. I was concerned by the continued movement of the other Cessna and had directed my vision toward it and lost focus of how close I was to the hangar. I then caught the left wingtip on the southeast corner of the hangar south of the Aeroclub." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6557H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6557H), registered now, S/N 17265487, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17265487 - Airframe hours: 8748 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-D2G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Decatur Aero Club, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 7, 2000, 190 hours before - Departed: DEC - Destination: DEC - Airport: DEC, Decatur ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 95 total, 63 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: DEC ## 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 20000618036379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000618036379A), Jun 18, 2000: Cessna 172M, Decatur, IL, Substantial damage. (-23) On 06/18/2000 at approx. 5:20 p.m. CDT the student pilot taxied out to the runway to practice touch and go landings. Upon run-up, the pilot in command… 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.