# NTSB CHI90LA120: Cessna 172N, N5685E, Angola, IN, April 28, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 28, 1990, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Angola, IN
- Coordinates: 41.640396, -85.000549 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6404&lon=-85.0005&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 4, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14661
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI90LA120
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14661/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90LA120

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, WHILE LANDING IN GUSTY/CROSSWIND CONDITIONS.  THE ADVERSE WIND WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled, pilot in command
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT AS THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ON THE RUNWAY, A GUST OF WIND CAUGHT THE UPWIND (LEFT) WING AND LIFTED IT. HE REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND CAME TO REST, NOSE DOWN, IN A RECENTLY PLOWED FIELD. THE PILOT REPORTED 64 HOURS OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE, OF WHICH 1.3 HOURS WERE IN THE PRECEDING 90 DAYS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5685E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5685E-1998-05-20), registration cancelled 1998-05-20, S/N 17271919 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17271919
- Airframe hours: 3700
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Marjorie E. Eyster
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 30, 1990, 7 hours before
- Departed: ANQ
- Destination: ANQ
- Airport: ANQ, Tri-State Steuben Co., runway 23, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 63 total, 7 in this make and model, 38 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 75 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ANQ

## 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 19900428013199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900428013199A), Apr 28, 1990: Cessna 172N, Angola, IN, Substantial damage. Veered off the runway landing in a gusty crosswind and nosed up in a ditch.

## Other investigations on N5685E (2)

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 CHI97LA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA135), May 18, 1997: Cessna 172N (N5685E), Angola, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing. Factors associated with the accident were the tailwind, the pilot's selection of runway, and the misjudged landing flare.
- [NTSB DIA68F0098](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DIA68F0098-201113), Sep 21, 1967: Cessna 150 (N5685E), Henderson, NC, destroyed

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.