# NTSB CHI96LA105: Cessna 172, N2966U, Camp Lake, WI, March 12, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 12, 1996, 12:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Camp Lake, WI - Location: 42.5278° N, 88.1561° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at CAMP LAKE (49C), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5278&lon=-88.1561&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 29, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10207 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA105 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10207/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA105 ## Probable cause Failure of the pilot to maintain clearance from trees that were located beside the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - object - tree(s) - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - airport facilities,runway safety area - narrow - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The pilot said that before landing, he was inspecting the grass runway by over-flying the runway from north to south. The aircraft hit tree branches 69 feet east of the runway edge. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane or engine. The runway clear area at Camp River Airport did not meet the recommendations of Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular 150/5300-13 chg 4. The airplane's left wing was crushed along the leading edge, and the left wing strut had buckled. The right landing gear mount was broken loose from the fuselage, and the fuselage was crushed aft of the firewall. ## Factual narrative On March 12, 1996, at 1245 central standard time (cst), a Cessna 172, N2966U, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a tree while flying over the Camp River Airport, Camp River, Wisconsin. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot sustained serious injures in the accident. The flight originated from Kenosha, Wisconsin, at 1115 cst. The pilot was contacted by the investigator in charge (IIC) on March 18, 1996. The pilot said that before landing he was inspecting the grass runway by over flying the runway from the north to the south. The pilot said he was flying along the east side of the runway. The pilot said he thought the aircraft had sufficient altitude to clear the obstacles around the airport. The pilot said the last thing he remembered about the flight was seeing tree branches in the windshield. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane or engine. A witness to the accident reported that as the pilot was flying past the airport office, the pilot did a "wing wag" with the aircraft. The airport manager was contacted by the IIC on March 15, 1996. The airport manager measured the distance from the runway edge to the trunk of the tree which the aircraft hit as 82 feet. The manager said the branches on the tree extended about 13 feet towards the runway edge, and estimated the height of the tree at 70 feet. Camp River Airport's runway is 75 feet wide. Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular 150/5300-13 chg 4 recommends a 87.5 foot clear area around the sides of a 75 foot wide runway. The airplane's left wing was crushed along the leading edge, and the left wing strut had buckled. The right landing gear mount was broken loose from the fuselage, and the fuselage was crushed aft of the firewall. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2966U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2966U-2012-09-24), registration cancelled 2012-09-24, S/N 17250566, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172d) (registry code 2072410) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17250566 - Airframe hours: 3300 - Engines: Continental O-300-C 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Marc Wenborg - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1995 - Departed: ENW, KENOSHA, WI - Destination: 49C - Airport: 49C, Camp Lake, runway 18, 2,250 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 214 total, 214 in this make and model, 145 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ENW, 10 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 19960312003929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960312003929A), Mar 12, 1996: Cessna 172D, Camp Lake, WI, Substantial damage. Made a low pass and hit a tree east of runway, came to rest in a field. (-23) Cessna 172, N2966U sustained substantial damage after striking a tree while… 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.