# NTSB CHI08LA101: Cessna 172K, N7490G, Roseglen, ND, April 11, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 11, 2008, 01:30 local (06:30 UTC) - Place: Roseglen, ND - Coordinates: 47.695278, -101.760276 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.6953&lon=-101.7603&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Fargo FSDO, Cessna - NTSB case key (mKey): 67822 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08LA101 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67822/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08LA101 ## Probable cause The pilot failed to maintain obstacle clearance from the TV antenna during a low altitude maneuver. Contributing factors were the antenna, the night conditions, and pilot impairment due to alcohol. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Impairment/incapacitation: alcohol](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012015): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012015/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 87 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012015/cases.md) - [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During dark night condition, the airplane impacted the terrain after hitting a 40-foot tall television antenna that was standing next to the pilot's doublewide trailer that was located at the pilot's farmstead. The airplane wreckage was discovered in a hayfield about 500 feet west of the trailer at about 1040 the next morning. Inspection of the wreckage revealed that the airplane's right wing struck the antenna about 8 feet from the top of the antenna. Flight control cable continuity was confirmed from the flight controls to their respective attach points on the flight control surfaces. The propeller exhibited characteristics indicative of engine power. A Forensic Toxicology Fatal Accident Report was prepared by the FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute. The toxicological evaluation of the blood specimen indicated the presence of ethyl alcohol in a concentration of 0.05 percent by weight. This level is consistent with impairment. The FAA regulation 14 CFR Part 91.17 prohibits the operation of an aircraft with a blood alcohol level of 0.04 percent or higher. ## Factual narrative On April 10, 2008, about 0130 central daylight time, a Cessna 172K, N7490G, was destroyed when it impacted the terrain after hitting a television antenna and trees at the pilot's farmstead near Roseglen, North Dakota. The pilot and one passenger received fatal injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight departed from the Garrison Municipal Airport (D05), Garrison, North Dakota, at an unknown time on a local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed. A witness reported hearing an airplane departing from D05 about 0106. A person who was sleeping in the doublewide trailer at the farmstead reported hearing a low-flying airplane flying over the farmstead at about 0130, and then he heard a clanking noise. He went outside to investigate but did not hear anything else unusual. The North Dakota Highway Patrol's report indicated that the airplane wreckage was discovered about 1040 on April 10, 2008. The airplane wreckage was located in a hayfield about 500 feet west of the trailer. The report stated that the airplane's right wing had struck a TV antenna that was approximately 40 feet tall that was standing next to the trailer. The airplane's wing struck the antenna about 8 feet from the top of the antenna. The airplane struck several pine trees located about 150 feet west of the trailer. The airplane traveled about another 200 feet where it impacted the ground. The main wreckage was located about 30 feet west of the ground impact. The 27-year-old pilot was a private pilot with a single-engine land rating. He held a third-class medical certificate that was issued on July 12, 2006. He had a total of about 69 hours of flight time with about 7 hours in a Cessna 172. The inspection of the airplane revealed that the airplane impacted the terrain in a left wing, nose-low attitude. The engine and cockpit were bent aft and under the fuselage. The leading edge of the right wing sustained compression damage and separated from the fuselage. A 16 foot section of the TV antenna was found wrapped around the right wing, about 6 feet inboard of the wingtip. Control cable continuity was confirmed for the right aileron and right flap from the control surfaces to the cable ends protruding from the right wing root area. The cable separation was consistent with tension overload. The flap actuator jackscrew measured 0.15 inches, which equated to the flaps being in the fully retracted position. The left wing exhibited compression damage at the wingtip and remained attached to the fuselage. Control cable continuity was confirmed from the left aileron to the control yoke assembly. The elevators and rudder were undamaged. Control cable continuity was established from the elevators and rudder forward to the cabin area. The elevator trim tab measured 1.3 inches, which equated to a neutral position. One propeller blade was bent forward and exhibited chordwise polishing and a gouge about 2 inches from the tip. The other propeller blade was twisted and exhibited chordwise polishing. An autopsy of the pilot was conducted at the North Dakota Department of Health in Bismarck, North Dakota, on April 14, 2008. The "Cause of Death" was listed as "Multiple head, neck, chest, abdominal, pelvic and extremity injuries due to an airplane crash." A Forensic Toxicology Fatal Accident Report was prepared by the FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute. The results of the test indicated the following: No carbon monoxide or cyanide detected in the blood No drugs detected in urine 45 (mg/dL, mg/hg) ethanol detected in blood 75 (mg/dL, mg/hg) ethanol detected in vitreas 171 (mg/dL, mg/hg) ethanol detected in urine 77 (mg/dL, mg/hg) ethanol detected in brain 26.59 (pmol/nmol) serotonin metabolite ratio detected in the urine The toxicological evaluation of the blood specimen indicated the presence of ethyl alcohol in a concentration of 0.05 percent by weight. The FAA regulation 14 CFR Part 91.17 prohibits the operation of an aircraft with a blood alcohol level of 0.04 percent or higher. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7490G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7490G-2012-07-09), registration cancelled 2012-07-09, S/N 17259190, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172K - Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17259190 - Airframe hours: 4117 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Jeremy Rustad - Registered owner: Jeremy Rustad - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 4, 2007 - Departed: D05, GARRISON, ND ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 69 total, 7 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 340° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: MOT, 22 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 20080411833299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080411833299A), Apr 11, 2008: Cessna 172K, Roseglen, ID, Destroyed, 2 fatal. (-23) April 11, 2008 at approximately 0130-0200 aircraft struck a personal television antenna tower that was affixed next to pic's house at height of… ## Other investigations on N7490G (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 LAX81FUG27](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FUG27), May 2, 1981: Cessna 172 (N7490G), Hesperia, CA, substantial damage 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.