# NTSB CHI91LA249: Cessna 172, N97650, Wheeling, IL, August 2, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 2, 1991, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Wheeling, IL
- Coordinates: 42.130126, -87.919418 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1301&lon=-87.9194&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 4, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15146
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI91LA249
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15146/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI91LA249

## Probable cause

INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS AND DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS NOT MAINTAINED BY THE PILOT.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE A GUSTY CROSSWIND LANDING ENVIRONMENT AND A DITCH.

## 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
  - 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)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT SAID THAT DURING THE LANDING ROLL, IN A GUSTY CROSSWIND, DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST.  THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY COLLIDING WITH SOME BRUSH AND A DITCH.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N97650](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N97650), registered now, S/N 17276218 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17276218
- Airframe hours: 3352
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Ate American Flyers
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, July 24, 1991, 40 hours before
- Departed: RFD, ROCKFORD, IL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: PWK, Palwaukee, runway 16, 5,137 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; student; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 49 total, 49 in this make and model, 9 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 16 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PWK, 1 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 19910802031469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910802031469A), Aug 2, 1991: Cessna 172P, Chicago/Wheelin, IL, Substantial damage. Lost control landing. Gusty crosswind blew aircraft off runway. Collided with a ditch.

## Other investigations on N97650 (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 NYC06CA189](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC06CA189), Jul 29, 2006: Cessna 172P (N97650), Poughkeepsie, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's improper flare and failure to recover from a bounced landing, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB CHI94LA122](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA122), Mar 23, 1994: Cessna 172P (N97650), Wheeling, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. A factor associated with the accident was the crosswind.

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.