# NTSB CHI93LA051: Cessna 172, N54959, La Porte City, IA, December 12, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 12, 1992, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: La Porte City, IA
- Coordinates: 42.3097, -92.190284 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3097&lon=-92.1903&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15637
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI93LA051
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15637/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI93LA051

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY ALIGN THE AIRPLANE WITH THE RUNWAY.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - not attained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

A LANDING WAS BEING ATTEMPTED ON A SNOW COVERED SOD AIRSTRIP WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.  THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF HE CIRCLED THE AIRSTRIP TO VISUALLY IDENTIFY THE LANDING AREA FROM THE AIR. FOLLOWING AERIAL MANEUVER PRACTICE THE PILOT RETURNED TO THE AIRSTRIP TO LAND.  INSTEAD OF ALIGNING WITH THE AIRSTRIP, HE LINED UP FOR THE LANDING OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY BETWEEN THE RUNWAY LIGHTS AND A FENCE. THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED 8-10' DEEP SNOW ON TOUCHDOWN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N54959 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172-75091
- Airframe hours: 2020
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Nichols Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Harold Leahy
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 13, 1992, 3 hours before
- Departed: 6C8
- Airport: 6C8, Nichols, runway 8, 2,570 × 94 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 47 total, 46 in this make and model, 23 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ALO, 14 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 19921212050079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921212050079A), Dec 12, 1992: Cessna 172P, La Porte City, IA, Substantial damage. Student landed in deep snow off side of runway. Runway had snow cover and hard to define plowed area in snow.

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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