# NTSB CHI96LA097: Cessna 172P, N99341, West Chicago, IL, February 24, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 24, 1996, 10:22 local (16:22 UTC) - Place: West Chicago, IL - Coordinates: 41.879085, -88.220581 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8791&lon=-88.2206&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 25, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10200 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA097 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10200/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA097 ## Probable cause the student pilot's misjudging the flare. A factor was the gusts. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,nose gear - overload ## Analysis The student pilot was conducting a full stop landing following a local solo flight. This was his first solo flight out of the airport traffic pattern. The pilot stated that he lost control of the airplane during the flare and the airplane landed hard on the nose landing gear. ## Factual narrative On February 24, 1996, at 1022 central standard time, a Cessna 172P, registered to A T E of Florida, Inc., and piloted by a student pilot, received substantial damage while landing on runway 28 (4,751' x 75' dry asphalt) at DuPage Airport, West Chicago, Illinois. The pilot reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 solo instructional flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file for the local flight. The flight departed at 1000. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector interviewed the pilot who stated he lost control of the airplane during the flare and landed hard on the nose landing gear. This was his first solo flight outside the airport traffic pattern in this airplane. An examination of the airplane failed to reveal any mechanical anomalies with the airplane which would have contributed to the accident. The airplane landed on runway 28. The winds were recorded as 250 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 20 knots 23 minutes after the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N99341](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N99341), registered now, S/N 17276434, built 1985 (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: 17276434 - Airframe hours: 12164 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ate Of Florida, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 24, 1996, 85 hours before - Departed: DPA - Airport: DPA, Dupage Airport, runway 28, 4,751 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 32 total, 32 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 15 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: DPA, 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 19960224003579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960224003579A), Feb 24, 1996: Cessna 172P, Chicago/West Ch, IL, Substantial damage. Failed to flare on landing. Hit nose first. Collapsed nose gear. Went up on nose then fell back upright. (-23) student pilot was signed-off for solo. Just… ## Other investigations on N99341 (1) 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 FTW02LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA147), Apr 8, 2002: Cessna 172P (N99341), McKinney, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: the student pilot's failure to properly recover from a bounced landing which resulted in the airplane porpoising. A contributing factor was the student pilot's improper landing flare which resulted… 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.