CHI86FA100

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172M · Lafox, IL · March 8, 1986

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report
Date
March 8, 1986, 15:56 local (21:56 UTC)
Place
Lafox, IL
Injuries
2 fatal, 2 uninjured
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N72MACessna 172MN2544XCessna 206
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
Case key
13247

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Midair collisionApproach
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot in command(cfi)Cause
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot of other aircraftCause
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled
Midair collisionApproach
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Miscellaneous/otherLanding
Landing gear,nose gear - separation
Precautionary landing - performedPilot in command

Analysis

An instructor plt (cfi/cfii) & his student (pvt single eng rated plt) were on an instructional flt in a Cessna 172, N72MA. The student had rrecently been taking instrument flt training & had a hood for use on this flt. Prior to the acdnt. The Cessna 172 was proceeding generally on a se hdg as if to intercept the ILS rwy 10 localizer for the du page arpt. At about the same time, a Cessna 206, N2544X, was proceeding inbound twd the du page arpt from the west at an alt of 2500 ft MSL. Subsequently, the two acft converged & collided about 2 mi west of the outer marker/final apch fix & aprx 1/4 mi south of the localizer course line. The min alt for the ILS apch in that area was 2600 ft MSL until inter- cepting the glide slope. During the acdnt, the nose gear of the Cessna 206 & the empennage of the Cessna 172 collided. The Cessna 172 went out of control & crashed in a steep dscnt. The Cessna 206 continued flying & was landed without a nose gear. Neither flt had requested nor were provided radar sepn.

An instructor plt (cfi/cfii) & his student (pvt single eng rated plt) were on an instructional flt in a Cessna 172, N72MA. The student had recently been taking instrument flt training & had a hood for use on this flt. Prior to the acdnt, the Cessna 172 was proceeding generally on a se hdg as if to intercept the ILS rwy 10 localizer for the du page arpt. At about the same time, a Cessna 206, N2544X, was proceeding inbound twd the du page arpt from the west at an alt of 2500 ft MSL. Subsequently, the two acft converged & collided about 2 mi west of the outer marker/final apch fix & aprx 1/4 mi south of the localizer course line. The min alt for the ILS apch in that area was 2600 ft MSL until inter- cepting the glide slope. During the acdnt, the nose gear of the Cessna 206 & the empennage of the Cessna 172 collided. The Cessna 172 went out of control & crashed in a steep dscnt. The Cessna 206 continued flying & was landed without a nose gear. Neither flt had requested nor were provided radar sepn.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N72MA
Reported as
Cessna 172M
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17264918
Airframe hours
1,830
Engine
Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
Michael F. Schwartz
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · May 13, 1985 · 65 hours before
Departed
DPA · West Chicago, IL
Airport
DPA · Du Page, runway 10, 4,001 × 75 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Registration
N2544X
Reported as
Cessna 206
Category
Airplane
Serial number
P206-0044
Airframe hours
2,500
Engine
Continental IO-520-A, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Minor damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
John Pelland
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · June 17, 1985 · 70 hours before
Departed
DKB · Dekalb, IL
Destination
DPA · West Chicago, IL
Airport
DPA · Du Page, runway 10, 4,001 × 75 ft, asphalt

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot, aircraft N72MA
Age
49
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Right
Toxicology
Performed
Flight hours
2,050 total · 25 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Role
Pilot, aircraft N2544X
Age
43
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
371 total · 150 in this make and model · 269 as pilot in command · 8 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
190° at 18 knots, gusting 28
Visibility
15 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
20,000 ft overcast
Temperature
32 °F, dew point 19 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg

FAA reports on this event · 2

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.