# NTSB CHI02LA078: Cessna 172P, N66986, Dowagiac, MI, February 18, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 18, 2002, 14:46 local (19:46 UTC) - Place: Dowagiac, MI - Coordinates: 41.979919, -86.110702 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9799&lon=-86.1107&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 18, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - South Bend FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54230 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA078 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54230/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54230 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA078 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions that resulted in directional control not being maintained during the landing roll. Factors to the accident were the pilot's inadequate in-flight decision to attempt the landing with a gusting 20 knot direct crosswind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis During landing rollout the airplane departed the right side of the prepared runway surface, entered a soft agricultural field, and nosed over. The landing attempt was made on runway 27 and the winds at the time were reported to be 180 degrees magnetic at 14 knots with gusts to 20 knots. The pilot reported he should have diverted, "to an airport that had a runway that was better [aligned] with the wind." The Cessna 172P Information Manual addresses crosswind landings and states in part, "The maximum allowable crosswind velocity is dependent upon pilot capability as well as aircraft limitations. Operation in direct crosswinds of 15 knots has been demonstrated." ## Factual narrative On February 18, 2002, at 1446 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172P, N66986, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged while landing on runway 27 (4,700 feet by 100 feet, dry/asphalt) at the Dowagiac Municipal Airport (C91), Dowagiac, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 and was on a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan. The pilot reported minor injuries. The flight departed from Griffing Sandusky Airport, Sandusky, Ohio, at 1145. According to the pilot's written statement, while over-flying the airport he noticed that the windsock and wind tetrahedron were indicating a wind from the south. The pilot stated he attempted two approaches to runway 27. The pilot reported, "On my first approach I started to feel a little behind the airplane." The pilot stated, "At the short final position I made the decision to break off the approach and go around." The pilot reported that during the go-around he thought about diverting to South Bend, Indiana, or Kalamazoo, Michigan, due to the crosswind condition on runway 27 at C91. The pilot stated he elected to attempt another approach to runway 27. During the second landing attempt, during landing rollout, the airplane departed the right side of the prepared runway surface, entered a soft agricultural field, and nosed over. The pilot reported that after touchdown the airplane began to track to the right and he, "again checked to see if I had full left aileron I did by this time I had gone off the runway onto a grass shoulder." The pilot reported he should have diverted, "to an airport that had a runway that was better [aligned] with the wind." C91 has a second runway, runway 04/22 (2,200 feet by 100 feet, turf). The flight school that operated the accident airplane prohibits takeoffs or landings on non-hard surfaced runways, except in emergency situations. At 1453 a weather observation station, located at the Southwest Michigan Regional Airport, Benton Harbor, Michigan, reported the wind direction and velocity to be 180 degrees magnetic at 14 knots with gusts to 20 knots. The Cessna 172P Information Manual addresses crosswind landings and states in part, "After touchdown, hold a straight course with the steerable nose wheel and occasional braking if necessary." The Information Manual further states, "The maximum allowable crosswind velocity is dependent upon pilot capability as well as aircraft limitations. Operation in direct crosswinds of 15 knots has been demonstrated." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N66986](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N66986-2014-01-07), registration cancelled 2014-01-07, S/N 17275997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17275997 - Airframe hours: 11591 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: American Flyers Schools, INC. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 8, 2002, 39 hours before - Departed: SKY, Sandusky, OH - Destination: C91, Dowagiac, MI - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: C91, Dowagiac Municpal Airport, runway 27, 4,700 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 444 total, 327 in this make and model, 382 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 14 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: BEH, 16 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 20020218006129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020218006129A), Feb 18, 2002: Cessna 172P, Dowagiac, MI, No damage. (-23) A private pilot on a cross country trip attempted a left cross wind landing at Dowagiac, Michigan and then drifted off the right side into the grass and… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 27, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54230. 4.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 567 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40388381&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Dowagiac Police Department Report (item 2, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40388382&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Dowagiac%20Police%20Department%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Cessna Information Manual (item 3, .PDF, 180 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40175286&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cessna%20Information%20Manual-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 4, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40388383&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Redacted.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. --- 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.