# NTSB CHI03LA040: Cessna 172M, N80213, Moline, IL, December 6, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 5, 2002, 19:45 local (Dec 6, 2002, 01:45 UTC) - Place: Moline, IL - Coordinates: 41.479, -90.479759 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4790&lon=-90.4798&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 5, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Dupage FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56226 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA040 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56226/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA040 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain altitude clearance during a base to final turn on approach. Contributing factors to the accident were the night conditions and the trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis The rental airplane returned with impact damage to its right wing, which was consistent with a tree strike. The pilot stated that he felt a bump while on a turn from base to final. The pilot stated he saw something with his right eye when he felt the bump. He added power and thought he had impacted something with the landing gear. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the local flight. ## Factual narrative On December 5, 2002, at 1945 central standard time, a Cessna 172M, N80213, operated by Flying Country Club as a rental airplane, returned with substantial damage after a local flight in the traffic pattern for runway 31 (7,001 feet by 150 feet, concrete) at Quad City International Airport, Moline, Illinois. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The local flight originated at 1915. The pilot reported he had climbed to pattern altitude after departure and was performing a left traffic pattern. The pilot stated he "saw something out of [his] right eye" while turning from base to final, and subsequently he increased engine power to full. The pilot further reported he felt a "bump." The pilot indicated he thought he had struck something with his landing gear. The pilot reported he landed the airplane and taxied back to the hanger. The pilot further reported that the right wing had been damaged. The right wing leading edge was crushed inward and contained debris consistent with a tree strike. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N80213](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N80213), registered now, S/N 17266449, 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: 17266449 - Airframe hours: 7294 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Flying Country Club Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 15, 2002, 258 hours before - Departed: MLI, MOLINE, IL - Destination: MLI - Airport: MLI, Quad City International, runway 31, 7,001 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 17, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 250 total, 90 in this make and model, 177 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 240° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 16 °F, dew point 7 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: MLI ## 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 20021205035769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021205035769A), Dec 5, 2002: Cessna 172M, Moline, IL, Substantial damage. (.19) On December 5, 2002, at 1945 central standard time, a Cessna 172M, N80213, operated by flying country club as a rental airplane, was found to have… 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.