# NTSB CHI96LA256: Cessna 172M, N1620V, Backus, MN, July 27, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 26, 1996, 22:30 local (Jul 27, 1996, 03:30 UTC) - Place: Backus, MN - Coordinates: 45.069686, -93.580436 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.0697&lon=-93.5804&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report September 19, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10326 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA256 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10326/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA256 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude and his abrupt maneuver to avoid the tree tops. The dark night was a factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr) - light condition - night (contributing factor) - altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) - maneuver to avoid obstructions - abrupt, pilot in command (cause) - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The pilot said that he was above the glidepath on final approach and did not feel comfortable with the situation. He decided to execute a go-around. He advanced the throttle to full power and moved the flap switch up two notches from 40 degrees of flaps to 20 degrees of flaps. 'Everything seemed to be going fine when the next thing I saw was the tree tops.' The pilot 'instinctively pulled back on the yoke' to clear the trees. 'The airplane dipped to the left,' struck the trees and fell to the ground. Examination of the wreckage revealed no anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On July 26, 1996, at 2230 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna 172M, N1620V, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when on climb from a go-around, the airplane departed controlled flight and impacted in an oak tree grove near Backus, Minnesota. Visual Meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was on file. The pilot and the passenger on board reported minor injuries. The flight originated at Minneapolis, Minnesota, at 2130 cdt. In his written statement, the pilot said that he was above the glide path on final approach and did not feel comfortable with the situation. The pilot decided to execute a go around. He advanced the throttle to full power and moved the flap switch up two notches from 40 degrees of flaps to 20 degrees of flaps. "Everything seemed to be going fine when the next thing I saw was the tree tops." The pilot "instinctively pulled back on the yoke" to clear the trees. "The airplane dipped to the left," struck the trees and fell to the ground. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who examined the wreckage at the site, found the airplane resting on its left side amongst oak trees at an 80-degree angle. The left wing had separated from the airplane. The right wing was bent up and aft. Both left and right fuel tanks were broken open. The smell of fuel was prevalent. The cowling and forward fuselage were bent up and to the right. The nose gear had separated from the firewall. The firewall was buckled. The aft fuselage and tail section showed numerous bends and skin wrinkles. The left main landing gear was broken off. The right main landing gear was undamaged. The engine remained attached to its mounts. Both propeller blades were bent and showed chordwise scratching. Flight control continuity was established. No anomalies were found with the engine, engine controls or other airplane systems. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1620V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1620V-2015-05-20), registration cancelled 2015-05-20, S/N 17263695, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17263685 - Airframe hours: 5202 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Annies Airplane Company, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 19, 1996, 14 hours before - Departed: MIC, MINNEAPOLIS, MN - Destination: 7Y3 - Airport: 7Y3, Backus Municipal, runway 33, 3,588 × 145 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 178 total, 42 in this make and model, 139 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 130° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PKD, 23 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 19960727020089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960727020089A), Jul 27, 1996: Cessna 172M, Backus, MN, Substantial damage. High and fast for night landing. Began go around. Stalled into trees on climbing turnout. (-23) pilot (gary bradford) was landing at the Backus airport, which… 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.