# NTSB CHI96LA249: Cessna 172, N7101T, Emily, MN, July 20, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 20, 1996, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Emily, MN - Coordinates: 46.75024, -93.960067 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.7502&lon=-93.9601&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 4, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10319 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA249 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10319/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA249 ## Probable cause the pilot misjudged his altitude and distance to the runway on final approach, and he failed to maintain obstacle clearance during landing. A factor relating to the accident was: the parked car. ## 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) - In flight collision with object, landing - object - vehicle (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis During landing, the airplane's left main landing gear hit the roof of a stock car that had been parked on the access road to a grass airstrip. After impacting the car, the airplane landed hard, and the landing gear collapsed. The airplane skidded off the runway, and hit a tree. The pilot reported he saw automobiles parked on the grass airstrip and thought he had enough room to land. Also, he reported that the runway was lined with trees and that the airplane dropped 'quit quickly' when the airplane got below the tree line. The entire length of the 2,000' grass runway was available beyond where the automobiles were parked. ## Factual narrative On July 20, 1996, at 1700 central daylight time, a Cessna 172, N7101T, was destroyed. During landing, the airplane's left main landing gear hit the roof of a stock car that had been parked on an access road to a grass airstrip. After impacting the car, the airplane landed hard and the landing gear collapsed. The airplane skidded off the runway and hit a tree. The private pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight had departed from Willmar, Minnesota, and was returning to a private airfield near Emily, Minnesota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that he saw the parked cars at the end of the 2,000 foot grass runway and thought he had enough room to land. He reported that the runway was lined with trees and that the airplane dropped "quit quickly" when the airplane got below the tree line. An Airworthiness Inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration reported that the automobiles were parked on the airport access road. The entire 2,000 feet of grass runway was available beyond where the automobiles were parked. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7101T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7101T), registered now, S/N 46701 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 46701 - Airframe hours: 3044 - Engines: Continental O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John E. Usherwood - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, July 16, 1996, 38 hours before - Departed: ILL, WILLMAR, MN - Airport: Emily Airport, runway 9, 2,000 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 128 total, 128 in this make and model, 128 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: AIT, 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 19960720019039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960720019039A), Jul 20, 1996: Cessna 172, Emily, MN, Substantial damage. Landed short and struck autos parked on threshold of runway. Had 2000 ft more runway available. (-23) pilot attempted to land with automobiles parked on the… 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.