# NTSB CHI02LA092: Cessna 152, N5111H, Christopher, IL, March 14, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 13, 2002, 20:00 local (Mar 14, 2002, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Christopher, IL - Coordinates: 37.969936, -89.049995 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9699&lon=-89.0500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 15, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Springfield FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54367 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA092 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54367/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54367 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA092 ## Probable cause The in-flight collision with a Canadian goose, which caused substantial damage to the airplane's right wing. A factor to the accident was the dark night light condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, cruise - normal - object - bird(s) (cause) - light condition - night (contributing factor) ## Analysis While in cruise flight the airplane encountered a flock of Canada geese and impacted a goose with the right wing. The pilot reported that he immediately climbed to a higher altitude and landed without any difficulties. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On March 13, 2002, about 2000 central standard time, a Cessna 152, N5111H, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted a goose while in cruise flight at 2,200 feet msl over Christopher, Illinois. Night visual metrological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight departed the Benton Municipal Airport, Benton, Illinois, at 1940. According to the pilot's written statement, while in cruise flight the airplane encountered a flock of Canadian geese and impacted a goose with the right wing. The pilot reported after the impact he, "... turned on my landing light to find that I was surrounded by Canadian geese." The pilot stated that he immediately climbed to 3,500 feet and landed at Southern Illinois Airport, Carbondale, Illinois, without any difficulties. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5111H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5111H-2012-03-08), registration cancelled 2012-03-08, S/N 15284062, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 152 - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15284062 - Airframe hours: 5892.5 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Southern Illinois Airport Authority - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 4, 2001, 9.3 hours before - Departed: H96, Benton, IL - Destination: MDH, Carbondale, IL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 20; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 21, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 273 total, 1 in this make and model, 134 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 160° at 9 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: MDH ## 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 20020313004799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020313004799A), Mar 13, 2002: Cessna 152, Carbondale, IL, No damage. (-23) The aircraft was being flown on a night cross-country flight from benton, Illinois to Carbondale, Illinois, at an altitude of 3000 feet. The pilot heard… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 27, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54367. 399 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 399 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40392682&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.