# NTSB CHI94LA099: Cessna 172RG, N4871V, Frankfort, MI, February 27, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 26, 1994, 21:00 local (Feb 27, 1994, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Frankfort, MI - Coordinates: 44.629264, -86.230102 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6293&lon=-86.2301&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 14, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9477 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA099 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9477/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA099 ## Probable cause THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE SNOW COVERED RUNWAY WAS A 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 - roll - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - snowbank ## Analysis THE PILOT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEF PRIOR TO DEPARTURE IN ADDITION TO HAVING A LOCAL RESIDENT AT THE DESTINATION REPORT THAT THE RUNWAY HAD BEEN CLEARED AFTER A RECENT SNOWSTORM. AFTER A TWO HOUR FLIGHT, THE PILOT TOUCHED DOWN ON A NIGHT VISUAL LANDING AT THE UNATTENDED AIRPORT. DURING THE LANDING ROLLOUT ON THE 50 FOOT WIDE RUNWAY, THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED DRIFTED SNOW. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND THE AIRPLANE SWERVED INTO THE PLOWED SNOWBANK ON THE RUNWAY EDGE. ## Factual narrative On February 26, 1994, at 2100 hours eastern standard time, a Cessna 172RG, operated as a rental aircraft by Lorrie Phyle of Clarkston, Michigan, impacted snow drifts on the runway edge during a night landing at the City-County Airport, Frankfort, Michigan(3D4). The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The non-instrument rated private pilot and three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, a VFR flight plan was filed but not opened. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from Pontiac, Michigan at 1945 hours. The pilot reported having received a weather briefing from flight service prior to the flight. In addition, a local resident at the destination reported to the pilot that the runway had been cleared after a recent snowstorm. The airport was an uncontrolled/unattended field with medium intensity runway lighting on runway 14-32. The dimensions of the runway were 3240 feet x 50 feet of hard surface asphalt. The runway had been plowed of snow, creating a snow berm on the western edge. Snow had drifted back onto the runway, covering approximately 1/2 the runway width. According to the pilot the landing pattern was entered and a visual approach made to runway 32. During rollout the airplanes' wheels began to drag through drifted snow. The airplane swerved left into the plowed snowbank contacting the propeller and right wingtip. The outboard 2 feet of the right wingtip was bent upwards. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4871V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4871V), registered now, S/N 172RG0406, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172RG - Registry model: [Cessna 172RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172rg) (registry code 2072438) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172RG0406 - Airframe hours: 3604 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-F1A6 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Phyle, Lorrie K, doing business as Pontiac Aviation, Inc - Registered owner: Phyle, Lorrie K - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Provisional (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 15, 1994, 5 hours before - Departed: PTK, PONTIAC, MI - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 3D4, City-County, runway 32, 3,240 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 153 total, 25 in this make and model, 83 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LAN, 150 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 19940226004529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940226004529A), Feb 26, 1994: Cessna 172RG, Frankfort, MI, Substantial damage. Encountered snowdrift on runway. Night landing. Veered into snowbank on edge of runway. 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.