# NTSB CHI96LA233: Cessna 172, N5542R, Freeport, IL, July 10, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 10, 1996, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Freeport, IL - Coordinates: 42.289329, -89.630943 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2893&lon=-89.6309&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 3, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10304 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA233 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10304/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA233 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudgment of altitude and distance on final approach, and his failure to attain the proper touchdown point for landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - crop ## Analysis The pilot reported that he extended 30 degrees of flaps in the traffic pattern. On final approach, he realized that the airplane was 'too low to land on a level section of the runway, there is an upslope on the south end of runway 36.' The pilot said he applied power to correct the situation, but the airplane stalled and touched down short of the runway on an upsloping overrun area. The airplane then angled into a soy bean field to the left of the extended runway centerline and was damaged. ## Factual narrative On July 10, 1996, at 1400 central daylight time, a Cessna 172, N5542R, being flown by a private pilot undershot the runway and collided with the terrain while landing on runway 36 at the Dornink Airstrip, Freeport, Illinois. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated from Reedsburg, Wisconsin, at 1300 cdt. The pilot stated that he lowered 30 degrees of flaps throughout the traffic pattern. He stated that on short final he realized that he was too low to land on the level portion of the runway and instead was heading for the upslope overrun area at the approach end of the runway. He stated he added power; however, the airplane stalled and impacted the upslope. He stated the airplane then veered to the left into a soy bean field. The pilot reported he attempted to "get the aircraft airborne. When I knew I could not get back into the air I shut off the engine and held the nose up to avoid flipping over. The aircraft ground looped in the soy bean field... ." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5542R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5542R-1996-10-22), registration cancelled 1996-10-22, S/N 17253126 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (registry code 2072414) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17253126 - Airframe hours: 5009 - Engines: Continental O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ronald K. Dornink - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 17, 1996, 33 hours before - Departed: C35, REEDSBURG, WI - Destination: C86 - Airport: C86, Dornink, runway 36, 2,600 × 140 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 180 total, 32 in this make and model, 116 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 9 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: RFD ## 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 19960710016669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960710016669A), Jul 10, 1996: Cessna 172F, Freeport, IL, Substantial damage. Too low to land on runway. Veered into soybean field. Stalled impacted upslope and ground looped. (-23) on July 10, 1996, at 1400 CDT, a Cessna 172, N5542R,… ## Other investigations on N5542R (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 CHI95LA252](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA252), Jul 31, 1995: Cessna 172F (N5542R), Oshkosh, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: the failure of the pilot of the Acro II, N40LF, to maintain clearance from the Cessna 172, N5542R. 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.