# NTSB CHI89LA055: Cessna 172N, N5315D, Superior, WI, March 5, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 5, 1989, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Superior, WI
- Coordinates: 46.670536, -92.079452 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.6705&lon=-92.0795&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 22, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14328
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI89LA055
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14328/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI89LA055

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND SWERVE.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE ICY AND SNOW COVERED RUNWAY CONDITIONS AND THE SNOWBANK.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - icy (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor)

## Analysis

SHORTLY AFTER TOUCHDOWN ON A SNOW AND ICE COVERED RUNWAY, THE STUDENT PILOT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AS HE APPLIED BRAKES IN AN ATTEMPT TO SLOW THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE LEFT AND DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, WHERE IT IMPACTED A SNOWBANK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5315D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5315D-2005-06-07), registration cancelled 2005-06-07, S/N 17272512, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17272512
- Airframe hours: 2090
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Twin Ports Flying Services,Inc
- Registered owner: Twin Ports Flying Services,Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 21, 1988, 90 hours before
- Departed: SUW, SUPERIOR, WI
- Airport: SUW, Richard I Bong, runway 13, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 80 total, 16 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 5 knots, gusting 7
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 19 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19890305003269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890305003269A), Mar 5, 1989: Cessna 172N, Superior, ID, Substantial damage. Applied brakes on landing with snow and ice patches on runway. Slid off into a snowbank.

## Other investigations on N5315D (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 CHI03FA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03FA086), Mar 16, 2003: Cessna 172N (N5315D), Foley, MN, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions which led to spatial disorientation and subsequent impact with the ground. Contributing factors was the pilot's lack of…

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.