# NTSB CHI08CA058: Cessna 172F, N8191U, Crystal Falls, MI, December 29, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: December 29, 2007, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Crystal Falls, MI
- Coordinates: 46.799999, -88.36
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8000&lon=-88.3600&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 28, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Grand Rapids, MI
- NTSB case key (mKey): 67479
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08CA058
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67479/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA058

## Probable cause

The rough, unsuitable terrain encountered during the landing which resulted in the total failure of the nose landing gear.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered (cause)
  - terrain condition - frozen
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,nose gear - failure,total (cause)

## Analysis

The airplane was substantially damaged during landing on a frozen lake when the nose landing gear collapsed.  The pilot reported that he was landing on a frozen lake to visit ice-fisherman.  He stated that he had landed at one end of the lake and spent about 20 minutes talking to some fishermen and then got back in the airplane and flew to the opposite end of the lake.  Upon landing, the nose landing gear struck a crack in the ice and collapsed.  The airplane then slid about 400 feet before coming to rest.  Examination of the airplane revealed damage to the engine, propeller and firewall.

## Factual narrative

The airplane was substantially damaged during landing on a frozen lake when the nose landing gear collapsed.  The pilot reported that he was landing on a frozen lake to visit ice-fisherman.  He stated that he had landed at one end of the lake and spent about 20 minutes talking to some fishermen and then got back in the airplane and flew to the opposite end of the lake.  Upon landing, the nose landing gear struck a crack in the ice and collapsed.  The airplane then slid about 400 feet before coming to rest.  Examination of the airplane revealed damage to the engine, propeller and firewall.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8191U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8191U), registered now, S/N 17252091, 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: 17252091
- Engines: Continental O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: Crystal Falls, MI

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review September 1, 2007; flight hours: 1,882 total, 800 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

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.

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