CHI96LA227

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172 · Cottage Grove, WI · June 27, 1996

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
June 27, 1996, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC)
Place
Cottage Grove, WI
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N1674ECessna 172
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 16, 1996
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19960627015379A
Case key
10298

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing. A factor was the delayed go-around.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding - roll
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Ground loop/swerve - inadvertentPilot in command
In flight collision with terrain/waterLanding - aborted
Aborted landing - delayedPilot in commandFactor

Analysis

During landing the airplane went off the left side of the runway and the student pilot initiated a go-around. During the go-around the pilot thought the airplane would not clear the trees ahead and he executed an emergency landing. The airplane came to rest on the side of a hill in a wooded area. In the pilot report, under recommendations of how this accident could have been prevented, the pilot wrote 'initiate go around sooner, and follow the procedures for balked landing as outlined in the P.O.H.'

Factual narrative

On June 27, 1996 at 1530 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna 172, N1674E, was substantially damaged when the aircraft made an emergency landing into the trees along runway 22(2953' x 57' asphalt), at the Blackhawk Airport, Cottage Grove, Wisconsin. The student pilot, who was on his second solo flight, was attempting a go around when the accident occurred. The pilot sustained minor injuries in the accident. VFR conditions prevailed at the time of the 14 CFR part 91 flight, and no flight plan had been filed.

In a written statement on NTSB form 6120.1/2 the pilot reported that during landing "the plane seemed like it was being pulled to the left." N1674E went off the left side of runway 22, and skid marks on the runway appeared to follow the path of the airplane. The pilot reported that after the airplane went off the left side of the runway he decided to attempt a go around. The pilot reported that after the airplane lifted off, it was near stall speed. He did not believe the airplane would clear the trees on the hill in front of the it.

Under the recommendations of how this accident could have been prevented the pilot wrote "initiate go around sooner, and follow the procedures for balked landing as outlined in the P.O.H.".

The airplane was found with the flaps in the retracted position, and the carburetor heat was in the on position. The airplane's nose wheel strut was broken loose from the airplane, and both propeller blades were bent. The wing skins in the wing spar areas were buckled, and the fuselage skins were buckled. No abnormalities were noted, when the airplane's brakes were tested following the accident.

Aircraft

Registration
N1674E
Reported as
Cessna 172
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17271091
Engine
Lycoming O-320-H2AD, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
David Strassman
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
52C
Airport
87Y · Blackhawk Airfield, runway 22, 2,953 × 57 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
24
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
17 total · 17 in this make and model · 17 in the last 90 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
230° at 6 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
88 °F, dew point 64 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
MSN, 7 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.

Other investigations on N1674E · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.