# NTSB CHI03LA065: Cessna 172F, N8112U, Waskish, MN, February 3, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 3, 2003, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Waskish, MN - Coordinates: 48.154167, -94.516944 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1542&lon=-94.5169&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 56456 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA065 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56456/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56456 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA065 ## Probable cause The inadequate preflight planning/preparation by the pilot. Contributing factors were the snow covered takeoff area and the tailwind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - aborted - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - Nose over, takeoff - aborted ## Analysis The airplane impacted a snow bank and nosed over during an aborted takeoff on a snow covered lake. The pilot stated that he attempted a downwind takeoff and realized that the airplane was unable to lift off. The airplane then impacted the snow bank. ## Factual narrative On February 3, 2003, at 1530 central standard time, a Cessna 172F, N8112U, owned and piloted by a private pilot, received substantial damage after hitting a snow bank and nosing over during an aborted takeoff on Upper Red Lake, Waskish, Minnesota. 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 sustained minor injuries. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that he landed on Upper Red Lake and unloaded fishing gear and two passengers. He told them that he would pick them up on a plowed road located about 1 1/2 miles away because he thought that there was too much snow on the lake for him to takeoff with the two passengers. He stated that he attempted the takeoff from Upper Red Lake with the wind, which he reported as 320 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 20 knots. During the takeoff, he realized that he couldn't lift off and attempted to stop the airplane, which resulted in the airplane impacting a snow drift and nosing over. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8112U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8112U), registered now, S/N 17252012, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172F - Registry model: [Cessna 172F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (registry code 2072414) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17252012 - Airframe hours: 3450 - Engines: Continental O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Justin R Fuhrer - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 31, 2002, 40 hours before - Departed: Waskish, MN - Airport: VWU, Waskish Municipal Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 346 total, 322 in this make and model, 305 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 6 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 16 °F, dew point 7 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: VWU, 1 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 20030203001549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030203001549A), Feb 3, 2003: Cessna 172F, Bemidji, MN, Substantial damage. (-23) VFR departing upper red lake with tailwind. Aborted takeoff and struck snowdrift flipping aircraft. Substantial damage. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 14, 2004, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56456. 358 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 358 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40203637&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.