# NTSB CHI90LA097: Cessna C172N, N737GN, Rock Falls, IL, March 16, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 16, 1990, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Rock Falls, IL
- Coordinates: 41.76934, -89.68975 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7693&lon=-89.6898&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 15, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14643
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI90LA097
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14643/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90LA097

## Probable cause

AN ENCOUNTER WITH WIND CONDITIONS WHICH EXCEEDED THE CAPABILITY OF THE STUDENT PILOT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - gusts (cause)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - dispatched, flight instructor(on ground) (contributing factor)
  - judgment - poor, flight instructor(on ground) (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

STUDENT PILOT ON SECOND SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON RUNWAY 25 AT INTENDED DESTINATION. WINDS WERE 240 DEGREES AT 15 KNOTS GUSTING TO 30 KNOTS. WHEN THE STUDENT WAS APPROXIMATELY 5 FEET ABOVE RUNWAY, STRONG GUST CAUGHT AIRCRAFT AND FLIPPED IT ON ITS BACK IN THE INFIELD. AIRCRAFT SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED, STUDENT UNINJURED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N737GN (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA C172N
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17269408
- Airframe hours: 1823
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Lewis University
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 9, 1990, 2 hours before
- Departed: LOT, ROMEOVILLE, IL
- Destination: SQI, ROCK FALLS, IL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: SQI, Whiteside City, runway 25, 6,500 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; student; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 52 total, 27 in this make and model, 8 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 24 knots, gusting 38
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: RFD, 35 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 19900316004719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900316004719A), Mar 16, 1990: Cessna 172N, Sterling Rockfa, IL, Substantial damage. Student landing in gusty wind struck ground and nosed over.

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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