# NTSB CHI97LA054: Cessna 172P, N51448, Bloomington, IN, January 16, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 16, 1997, 15:11 local (20:11 UTC) - Place: Bloomington, IN - Coordinates: 39.229305, -86.469779 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2293&lon=-86.4698&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 25, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10509 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI97LA054 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10509/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA054 ## Probable cause the pilot failed to maintain control of the aircraft. Factors included the icy runway and the crosswind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, taxi - from landing - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - icy (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - from landing - terrain condition - snowbank ## Analysis The pilot reported he landed on runway 35 and that the runway was covered with ice. He reported that the aircraft's speed was almost at taxi speed when a gust of wind caused the airplane to weathervane to the left. The pilot attempted differential braking while using crosswind aileron application. The pilot reported that the aircraft continued to slide off the left side of the runway. The airplane impacted a snow bank and nosed over to the vertical position before falling back on its landing gear. The official winds were 280 degrees at 15 knots. Runway 17/35 had been NOTAMed for thin packed or compacted snow/ice on the runway, sanded, braking action poor. ## Factual narrative On January 16, 1997, at 1511 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172P, N51448, operated by Cardinal Wings, sustained substantial damage during landing roll when the airplane started skidding on the ice covered runway and hit a snow bank. The private pilot and the one passenger were not injured. The 14 CFR 91 flight had departed Bowman Field, Louisville, Kentucky, and had landed at Bloomington Airport, Bloomington, Indiana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported he landed on runway 35 and that the runway was covered with ice. He reported that the aircraft's speed was almost at taxi speed when a gust of wind caused the airplane to weathervane to the left. The pilot attempted differential braking while using crosswind aileron application. The pilot reported that the aircraft continued to slide off the left side of the runway. The airplane impacted a snow bank and nosed over to the vertical position before falling back on its landing gear. The official reported winds were 280 degrees at 15 knots. Runway 6 and 24 was closed. The pilot reported that the Notices to Airmen (NOTAM's) had indicated patchy ice on the runway, not the solid glaze of ice which he had encountered. The pilot reported that he had expected the runway conditions to be the same that he had experienced two days prior. The NOTAM's two days prior had also called for patchy ice, but the pilot reported that the conditions had been much better than on the day of the accident. Two NOTAM's for Burlington Airport were issued at 0449Z, January 16, 1997. The first indicated that runway 6 and 24 was closed. The second NOTAM indicated the following: "BMG 17/35 THN SIR SA BA POOR" The NOTAM indicated that runway 17/35 had thin packed or compacted snow/ice on the runway, sanded, braking action poor. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N51448](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N51448), registered now, S/N 17274313, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17274313 - Airframe hours: 7979 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Cardinal Wings - Registered owner: Roy Wyatt - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 30, 1996, 7,900 hours before - Departed: LOU, LOUISVILLE, KY - Destination: BMG - Airport: BMG, Monroe County, runway 35, 6,500 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 208 total, 18 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 15 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken - Temperature: 14 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BMG ## 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 19970116000509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970116000509A), Jan 16, 1997: Cessna 172P, Bloomington, IN, Substantial damage. Aircraft ran off left side of runway after landing and struck a snowbank. (-23) on January 16, 1997, at 1511 EST, a Cessna 172-P, N51448, registered to roy… 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.