# NTSB CHI04LA104: Cessna 172M, N73213, New Munster, WI, April 10, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 9, 2004, 19:18 local (Apr 10, 2004, 00:18 UTC) - Place: New Munster, WI - Coordinates: 42.571666, -88.200279 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5717&lon=-88.2003&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 59112 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04LA104 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59112/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04LA104 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) Visual lookout not maintained by the pilots of both airplanes. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, cruise - visual lookout - not maintained, pilots of both aircraft (cause) - Midair collision, cruise - visual lookout - not maintained, pilots of both aircraft (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) A Cessna 172M and a Cessna 182S both received substantial damage during a midair collision. Both airplanes landed without further incident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot of the Cessna 172M stated that he was in level flight at 2,500 feet mean sea level when he felt and heard a thump from the rear of the airplane. After the collision, the pilot saw the Cessna 182S above, to the left, and in front of him. The pilot of the Cessna 182S stated that as he rolled out from a steep turn, he saw the Cessna 172M at his 2 o'clock position, slightly low and very close. A moment later, his landing gear struck the Cessna 172M's vertical stabilizer. Neither airplane was receiving air traffic control services. The pilot of the Cessna 182S stated that the purpose of his flight was flight proficiency with the intent to practice holding, procedure turns, and instrument approaches. The pilot of the Cessna 172M did not hold an airplane instrument rating and was receiving instruction prior to the accident flight toward an instrument ratting. The pilot of the Cessna 182S held an airplane instrument rating at the time of the accident. Neither pilot had a safety pilot aboard the accident flights. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) On April 9, 2004, about 1918 central daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N73213, co-owned by the pilot, sustained substantial damage during a midair collision with a Cessna 182S, N355BD, operated by Waukegan Wings as a rental airplane, near New Munster, Wisconsin. N355BD sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flights were operating without flight plans and were not receiving air traffic control services. The private pilot of N73213 and the private rated rental pilot of N355BD were uninjured. N73213 originated from Palwaukee Municipal Airport, Wheeling, Illinois, at 1905, and N355BD originated from Waukegan Regional Airport (UGN), Waukegan, Illinois, at 1800. Both airplanes were en route to Burlington Municipal Airport (BUU), Burlington, Wisconsin. Following the midair collision, N73213 landed at BUU and N355BD landed at UGN. Both airplanes landed without further incident. The pilot of N73213 stated that he was en route to BUU on a heading of 340 degrees. The airplane's beacon, navigation, and taxi lights were on throughout the flight. He flew over Fox Lake and initiated a climb to about 3,000 feet mean sea level (MSL). About 15 miles from BUU, he descended to 2,500 feet MSL in order to intercept the BUU VOR and "perhaps" fly a visual BUU VOR 29 practice approach. About 9.4 miles south of BUU, while in straight and level flight, the pilot felt and heard a loud thump from the rear of his airplane. He did not see another airplane prior to the midair collision. Approximately 3 or 4 seconds after the collision, the pilot noticed another high-wing aircraft above, to the left, and in front of him. The other airplane was beginning to turn to a southbound heading. The pilot of N355BD stated that he departed on a local proficiency flight and upon leaving UGN's airspace, he tuned to BUU's common traffic advisory frequency. About 1850, he departed from the BUU VOR at 2,500 feet MSL to an area south of Bong Air Force Base in order to avoid traffic at Westosha, Burlington, or Galt airports. About 1900, he made a clearing turn from 180 degrees to 90 degrees and the another clearing turn back to 180 degrees. The pilot stated that he did not see any air traffic during or after either clearing turn. He then performed a 45-degree steep turn to the right from 180 degrees and 2,500 feet MSL. After completing the turn, he retrimmed the airplane, and checked for traffic. He then made another 45-degree steep turn to the left at 2,440 feet MSL. He did not see any traffic while performing either turn. He began his rollout to straight and level on a heading of about 200 degrees at 2,440 feet MSL. As he rolled out, he saw a Cessna Skyhawk at his 2 o'clock position, slightly low, on a heading of about 310 degrees, and very close. A moment later, his landing gear struck the Skyhawk's vertical stabilizer. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the pilot of N355BD stated that the purpose of his flight was flight proficiency with the intent to fly to BUU to practice holding, procedure turns, and instrument approaches. The pilot of N73213 did not hold an instrument rating and was receiving instruction prior to the accident flight toward an airplane instrument rating. The pilot of N355BD held an airplane instrument rating at the time of the accident. Neither pilot had a safety pilot aboard the accident flights. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N73213](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N73213), registered now, S/N 17267332 (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: 17267332 - Airframe hours: 4583 - Engines: Textron Lycoming O-320-E2D 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Gene Haig - Registered owner: Jerry Krandell - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 5, 2004, 4.3 hours before - Departed: PWK, Wheeling, IL - Destination: BUU, Burlington, WI - Airport: BUU, Burlington Municipal ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: N355BD (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182S - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18280327 - Airframe hours: 1411.7 - Engines: Textron Lycoming IO-540-AB1A5 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Waukegan Wings - Registered owner: James Cioni - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 2, 2004, 36.5 hours before - Departed: UGN, Waukegan, IL - Destination: BUU, Burlington, WI - Airport: BUU, Burlington Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N73213; age 54; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 29, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 409 total, 319 in this make and model, 308 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N355BD; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 8, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 391 total, 136 in this make and model, 325 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 330° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: BUU, 9 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20040409006151A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040409006151A), Apr 9, 2004: Cessna 172M, New Munster, WI, Substantial damage. (-23) On 04/09/04 at 7:30 cdst, a Cessna 172 had a mid air collision with a Cessna 182. The 172 sustained substantial damage and the Cessna 182 received minor… - [Accident 20040409006152A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040409006152A), Apr 9, 2004: Cessna 182S, New Munster, WI, Minor damage. (-23) On 04/09/2004 at 7:30 cdst, a Cessna 182 had a mid-air collision with a Cessna 172. The Cessna 182 sustained minor damage and the Cessna 172 sustained… 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.