# NTSB CHI92LA033: Cessna 172P, N96147, Marquette, MI, November 23, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 22, 1991, 21:30 local (Nov 23, 1991, 02:30 UTC)
- Place: Marquette, MI
- Coordinates: 46.550182, -87.390556 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.5502&lon=-87.3906&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 3, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15350
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI92LA033
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15350/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI92LA033

## Probable cause

FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN AIRFRAME (WING) ICING AND THE INABILITY TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE.  THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND DARKNESS WERE RELATED FACTORS.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - wing - ice (cause)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - attempted, pilot in command
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT DEPARTED AT NIGHT IN A FOUR SEAT AIRPLANE WITH A TOTAL OF FIVE PEOPLE. HIS PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING NOTED IMC ALONG HIS ROUTE OF FLIGHT ASSOCIATED WITH A COLD FRONT. FLIGHT PRECAUTIONS WERE ISSUED BY THE BRIEFER FOR MODERATE RIME AND MIXED ICING ALONG THE ENTIRE ROUTE OF FLIGHT. HE ELECTED TO DEPART VFR AND AIR-FILED AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT PLAN. HE RECEIVED SEVERAL INFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFINGS GIVING LOW IFR CONDITIONS AT HIS DESTINATION AND SURFACE TEMPERATURES JUST ABOVE FREEZING. HE ELECTED TO CONTINUE THE FLIGHT AND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO COLLECT ICE. HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE DUE TO THE ICE ACCRETION AND ULTIMATELY DESCENDED INTO TREES AND TERRAIN. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT CERTIFICATED FOR FLIGHT INTO ICING CONDITIONS, AND WAS NOT FITTED WITH ANY AIRFOIL/PROPELLER DEICE OR ANTI-ICING EQUIPMENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N96147](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N96147-2012-08-09), registration cancelled 2012-08-09, S/N 17276030, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- 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: 17276030
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Baldwin Aircraft
- Registered owner: Baldwin Aircraft
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 30, 1991, 32 hours before
- Departed: PWK, WHEELING, IL
- Destination: MQT, MARQUETTE, MI
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 15,686 total, 300 in this make and model, 15,686 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 10° at 10 knots, gusting 16
- Lowest ceiling: 100 ft broken
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SAW, 15 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 19911122053439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911122053439A), Nov 22, 1991: Cessna 172P, Marquette, MI, Destroyed. During vectors for ILS approach was unable hold altitude due ice. Settled in trees. Aircraft not equipped for icing

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.