# NTSB CHI01LA159: Cessna 172M, N191WW, Middleton, WI, June 9, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 9, 2001, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Middleton, WI - Coordinates: 43.099575, -89.499214 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0996&lon=-89.4992&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 23, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 52472 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI01LA159 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52472/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA159 ## Probable cause The pilot attempted a touch and go on unsuitable terrain. A factor associated with the accident was the tall wet grass airstrip on which the touch and go was attempted. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, takeoff - aborted - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - soft (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - used, pilot in command (cause) - touch-and-go - attempted, pilot in command - airspeed(vr) - not attained, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - Nose over, other ## Analysis The airplane nosed over during an aborted takeoff on a soft grass airstrip. The pilot reported that he performed 7 or 8 touch and go landings on runway 30 which is asphalt. He then decided to perform the last touch and go on runway 36 (2,971 feet by 110 feet, wet grass). The pilot reported that after landing he configured the airplane for takeoff. He continued to report, "The plane would not get up to flying speed. The engine was at full power and I was bogging down. I decided to abort the take-off and pulled power out, full back elevator and the airplane slowed down, when the nose wheel touched down in the very soft mud and the plane nosed-over and came to rest inverted." The pilot reported that prior to takeoff he "...asked the lady behind the counter if the grass runways were open and she said yes." Inspection of the airstrip after the accident revealed the grass was wet from recent rains. The pilot described the runway as "very soft and muddy with long grass." ## Factual narrative On June 9, 2001, at 1215 central daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N191WW, nosed over after settling back to the terrain during takeoff on runway 36 (2,971 feet by 110 feet, wet grass) at the Morey Airport, Middleton, Wisconsin. The private pilot was not injured and the airplane received substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated at the Morey Airport at 1115 central daylight time. The pilot reported that he performed 7 or 8 touch and go landings on runway 30 which is asphalt. He then decided to perform the last touch and go on runway 36 which is grass. He stated he decided to land on the grass because two airplanes were back taxiing on runway 30 and because the winds shifted to out of the north. The pilot reported that after landing he configured the airplane for takeoff. He continued to report, "The plane would not get up to flying speed. The engine was at full power and I was bogging down. I decided to abort the take-off and pulled power out, full back elevator and the airplane slowed down, when the nose wheel touched down in the very soft mud and the plane nosed-over and came to rest inverted." The pilot reported that prior to takeoff he "...asked the lady behind the counter if the grass runways were open and she said yes." Inspection of the airstrip after the accident revealed the grass was wet from recent rains. The pilot described the runway as "very soft and muddy with long grass." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N191WW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N191WW), registered now, S/N 17260840, built 1972 (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: 17260840 - Airframe hours: 2403 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Pegasus Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 30, 2001, 10 hours before - Departed: C29, Middleton, WI - Destination: C29, Middleton, WI - Airport: C29, Morey Field, runway 36, 2,175 × 110 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review April 1, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 192 total, 42 in this make and model, 101 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: MSN, 10 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 20010609039469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010609039469A), Jun 9, 2001: Cessna 172M, Madison, WI, Substantial damage. (-23) Midday June 9, 2001 Mr. Bradley schmidt, ssan 77524418, perform 8 or 9 approaches to runway 30 (asphalt) at middleton, WI Morey Airport (C29). These… 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.