# NTSB CHI03LA061: Cessna 172, N670CS, Lakeville, MN, January 31, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 31, 2003, 17:02 local (23:02 UTC) - Place: Lakeville, MN - Coordinates: 44.627777, -93.228057 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6278&lon=-93.2281&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 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Minneapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56436 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA061 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56436/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56436 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA061 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate removal of ice and snow during the airplane preflight, and the subsequent loss of control due to the airplane being covered with ice. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - ice/frost removal from aircraft - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - flight control surfaces/attachments - ice (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - open field ## Analysis The airplane sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to a field located on airport property. The airplane was departing when the forced landing was initiated. The pilot reported that he performed a preflight inspection, and cleaned the snow and ice off the top of the airplane. He reported that the airplane accelerated normally and he climbed to 500 feet. He reported that he saw some geese and he turned to avoid them, but he "did not recall if he hit them." He reported the airplane began to "fall from the sky," and he turned back to the runway, but the airplane started to stall. He landed the airplane in a field next to the runway. A witness, who arrived at the scene of the accident about 35 minutes after the accident, reported the airplane was located about 800 feet to the south of the runway. The witness reported, "There was lots of ice and snow on top of the wings, also the tail section." He reported the "elevators, ailerons, flaps were loaded with ice." He reported that he observed the airplane the next morning during daylight. He reported, "It was obvious that there was heavy ice on the topside of all surfaces of the aircraft and it was sticking solid." A second witness reported that he observed that the leading edges of the wings were clean, but there was a layer of "hard, icy stuff aft of the leading edges." The second witness reported that it had been snowing with freezing drizzle the last couple of days, but that there had been no freezing drizzle the night before he observed the airplane. An inspection of the airplane revealed no preexisting anomalies. ## Factual narrative On January 31, 2003, at 1702 central standard time, a Cessna 172, N670CS, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to a field located on airport property at Airlake Airport (LVN), Lakeville, Minnesota. The airplane was departing from runway 30 (4,263 feet by 75 feet, asphalt) when the forced landing was initiated. The pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 business flight was departing LVN en route to Eppley Airfield (OMA), Omaha, Nebraska. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. An instrument flight plan was filed. The pilot reported he arrived at the airport on Friday about 1600. He reported that he performed a preflight inspection, and cleaned the snow and ice off the top of the airplane. At 1645, he taxied out for takeoff, but was unable to obtain a takeoff clearance. He shut down the airplane and re-filed an instrument flight plan using his cellular telephone with Princeton FSS. At 1700, he departed on runway 30. He reported that the airplane accelerated normally and he climbed to 500 feet. He reported that he saw some geese and he turned to avoid them, but he "did not recall if he hit them." He reported the airplane began to "fall from the sky," and he turned back to the runway, but the airplane started to stall. He landed the airplane in a field next to the runway. A witness reported he arrived at the scene of the accident on Friday about 1735. He reported the airplane was located about 800 feet to the south of the runway. He reported, "There was lots of ice and snow on top of the wings, also the tail section." He reported the "elevators, ailerons, flaps were loaded with ice." He reported that he observed the airplane the next morning during daylight. He reported, "It was obvious that there was heavy ice on the topside of all surfaces of the aircraft and it was sticking solid." Loose grass and dirt was found on top of the ice. He reported "only the leading edges looked clean." He reported that there had been an ice and snowstorm the night prior to the accident. Another witness reported that on Saturday morning he observed that the leading edges of the wings were clean, but there was a layer of "hard, icy stuff aft of the leading edges." He reported that it had been snowing with freezing drizzle the last couple of days, but that there had been no freezing drizzle on Friday night. An inspection of the airplane revealed no preexisting anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N670CS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N670CS), registered now, S/N 172S9098, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S9098 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Shane Siefken - Registered owner: Dl3s LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 19, 2002 - Departed: LVN, Lakeville, MN - Destination: OMA, Omaha, NE - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: LVN, Airlake Airport, runway 30, 4,263 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,686 total, 260 in this make and model, 398 as pilot in command, 190 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 320° at 5 knots - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,100 ft overcast - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: LVN ## 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 20030131001539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030131001539A), Jan 31, 2003: Cessna 172S, Lakeville, MN, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot attempted to take off Cessna 172 with 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch of rough ice and snow on all wing and tail surfaces. Aircraft would not fly and departed… ## Other investigations on N670CS (1) 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. - [NTSB GAA19CA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA113), Jan 29, 2019: Cessna 172 (N670CS), Reno, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a rejected takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a ditch. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 11, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56436. 687 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 488 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40381116&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement & Record of Interview (item 2, .PDF, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40381117&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement%20%26%20Record%20of%20Interview-Redacted.PDF - Report From Airlake Airport Manager (item 3, .PDF, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40196703&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Report%20From%20Airlake%20Airport%20Manager-Master.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.