# NTSB CHI84FA383: Cessna 172N, N5289D, Lisle, IL, September 9, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 9, 1984, 00:35 local (05:35 UTC)
- Place: Lisle, IL
- Coordinates: 41.790287, -88.080284 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7903&lon=-88.0803&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12428
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI84FA383
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12428/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI84FA383

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - preflight briefing service - not used, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - radar assistance to vfr aircraft - attempted, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - descent - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - level off - attempted, pilot in command
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

AT 0029 CDT THE PLT CONTACTED A LOCAL ATCT STATING THAT HE WAS IN IMC WITH 0 VISIBILITY REQUESTING ASSISTANCE AND DESIRING TO LAND AT THE CLOSEST ARPT. THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT WAS AT 2,000 FT AND WAS GIVEN A CLIMB TO 2,500 FT. THE CONTROLLER STATED THAT HE WAS TRYING TO GET THE ACFT ABOVE THE 2,300 FT MIN VECTORING ALT AND INTENDED TO CONTINUE THE CLIMB TO VMC AT APRX 4,000 FT. INITIALLY THE ACFT WAS HEADED TOWARD MIDWAY ARPT BUT WHEN MIDWAY WENT TO IFR THE DEST WAS CHANGED TO O'HARE. ACCORDING TO A WITNESS, THE ACFT WAS FLYING LOW AND ENTERED A CLIMB TO AN APRX 90 DEG NOSE-HIGH ATTITUDE BEFORE THE NOSE DROPPED AND THE ACFT DESCENDED VERTICALLY TO THE GROUND. OVERCAST CLOUD LAYERS IN THE AREA VARIED FROM 700 TO 1,100 FT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5289D (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17272495
- Airframe hours: 1045
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Larry H. Anglin, Arthur Alex.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 18, 1984, 30 hours before
- Departed: C59, DELEVAN, WI
- Destination: C18, FRANKFORT, IL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 165 total, 90 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 800 ft overcast
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DPA, 9 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 19840909049779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840909049779A), Sep 9, 1984: Cessna 172N, Lisle, IL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Flew into clouds. ATC tried to vector to airport, lost control. Small amount of marijuana found in wreckage.

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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