# NTSB CHI94LA131: Cessna 172, N4253L, Edina, MO, April 11, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 11, 1994, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Edina, MO - Coordinates: 40.160278, -92.170509 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1603&lon=-92.1705&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 14, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9505 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA131 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9505/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA131 ## Probable cause the pilot in commands' failure to obtain obstruction clearance from trees during a visual takeoff from a short, soft, wet field in instrument meteorological conditions. A factor was the pilot in commands' misjudgment of the takeoff climb performance of the airplane, which resulted in striking trees at the departure end of the field. A second factor was the operation of the airplane with a known defective wet compass, which resulted in the pilot's disorientation and led him to land in the unsuitable field. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - clearance - not obtained, pilot in command (cause) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor) - climb - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor) - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE PILOT IN COMMAND KNOWLINGLY DEPARTED ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT WITH AN INOPERATIVE WET COMPASS, SET HIS DIRECTIONAL GYRO 90 DEGREES OFF IN FLIGHT, AND BECAME DISORIENTED IN DETERIORATING WEATHER. HE ELECTED TO LAND IN A SHORT, SOFT, WET SOD FIELD TO FIND OUT HIS LOCATION, THEN TOOK OFF AGAIN WITH WEATHER ESTIMATED AT 800 FT OVERCAST, 2 MILES IN RAIN. DURING THE INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB, IN CONTROLLED FLIGHT, THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES AT THE DEPARTURE END OF FIELD. ## Factual narrative On April 11, 1994, at 1430 central daylight time, a Cessna 172, N4253L, operated as a rental aircraft by VanReeth Aviation, Inc., of Morris, Illinois, contacted trees during takeoff from an off airport sod field near Edina, Missouri, and was destroyed. The instrument rated commercial pilot/flight instructor and passenger were not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions were reported at the nearest weather observation facilities at the time of the accident, the pilot reported the weather at the accident as 800 overcast, 2 miles in rain, and no flight plan was on file. The flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91 as a business flight and was on a return leg from Pella, Iowa, to Morris, Illinois. The pilot reported knowlingly departing with an inoperative wet compass. He reported that on the return leg, he aligned his directional gyro with a road 90 degrees from his actual heading. The directional gyro then indicated a flight direction of east, while the actual route of flight was southerly into deteriorating weather. The pilot reported that he became disoriented and landed in a field to determine his location. He elected to takeoff again to attempt to reach an airport for fuel. Once airborne on his takeoff, he recognized that he could not abort but would not clear trees at the end of the field. The airplane contacted the trees, came to a stop and settled vertically to the the ground. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4253L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4253L-2013-03-26), registration cancelled 2013-03-26, S/N 67-18357 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 - Registry model: [Hughes TH-55](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-th-55) (registry code 4471002) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 67-18357 - Airframe hours: 3812 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Edward D. Vanreeth, doing business as Vanreeth Aviation, Inc - Registered owner: Vanreeth Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 2, 1994, 18 hours before - Departed: 7C9, PELLA, IA - Destination: C09, MORRIS, IL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 1,539 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 1,452 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 15 knots - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 800 ft overcast - Temperature: 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: UIN, 30 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 19940411010619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940411010619A), Apr 11, 1994: Cessna 172, Edina, MO, Destroyed. Departed with inoperative compass. Became lost. Landed in open field. Tried to depart but struck trees on climbout. 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.