# NTSB CHI98LA044: Cessna 152, N49908, Woodstock, IL, November 24, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 24, 1997, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Woodstock, IL - Coordinates: 42.310455, -88.429237 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3105&lon=-88.4292&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 30, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10788 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI98LA044 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10788/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA044 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to see-and-avoid the powerlines on short final. The location of the powerlines was a related factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - object - wire,transmission (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The pilot said that he was en route to Harvard, Illinois, in the vicinity of an airstrip, when the airstrip's owner contacted the pilot over the radio and invited him to land. The pilot said that he had overflown the airstrip on previous occasions and knew that it was long enough for him to land, but he was unaware of any obstacles in the vicinity of the airstrip. On short final, the pilot saw some powerlines crossing the approach end of the airstrip. The pilot tried to fly under them, but the leading edge of the airplane's vertical stabilizer impacted a wire. The airplane yawed, pitched up slightly, then dropped to the ground. Examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On November 24, 1997, at 1600 central standard time (cst), a Cessna 152, N49908, operated by an airline transport pilot, sustained substantial damage when on short final for landing at a private airstrip, the airplane's vertical stabilizer struck a powerline. The airplane subsequently impacted the terrain. 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 reported minor injuries. The flight originated at West Chicago, Illinois, at 1530 cst. In his written statement, the pilot said that he was en route to Harvard, Illinois, in the vicinity of the private airstrip, when the airstrip's owner contacted the pilot over the radio and invited him to land his airplane there. The pilot said that he had overflow the airstrip on previous occasions and knew that it was long enough to land on, but was unaware of any obstacles in the vicinity of the airstrip. While on final, the pilot saw powerlines running parallel to the west side of the runway. The pilot flew the approach so as to land slightly east of the runway centerline. On short final the pilot saw a second set of powerlines crossing the approach end of the airstrip. The pilot tried to fly under them, but the leading edge of the airplane's vertical stabilizer impacted the wire. The airplane yawed, pitched up slightly and then dropped to the ground. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the wreckage at the airstrip. The airplane's nose gear was broken off. The propeller had broken off at the flange. Both blades were bent aft and showed chordwise scratches. The engine mount was twisted to the right. The airplane's fuselage showed right twisting and buckling through the cabin, aft to the empennage. Flight control continuity was confirmed. Examination of the airplane's engine, engine controls and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N49908](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N49908-2000-06-15), registration cancelled 2000-06-15, S/N 15281386 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 152 - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15281386 - Airframe hours: 6202 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 105 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Hollis King & Mark Mccormick - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 1997, 28 hours before - Departed: DPA, WEST CHICAGO, IL - Airport: Robert Hughes Farm, runway 18, 2,600 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; flight instructor, airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 8,936 total, 874 in this make and model, 3,751 as pilot in command, 138 in the last 90 days, 52 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 6 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: UGN, 31 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 19971124041209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971124041209A), Nov 24, 1997: Cessna 152, Woodstock, IL, Substantial damage. Tail struck power line on short final landing. Indicates flew under wires on final. (.4)the pilot said that he was en route to harvard, Illinois, in 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.