N1564H accident

NTSB CEN12LA541 · 2012-08-11 · Litchfield, IL · near 3LF

Docket — crew, injuries and powerplant

Summary

The pilot aborted the landing after the airplane veered off the runway and was headed toward airport lighting equipment. However, the airplane stalled during the initial climb and impacted a bean field. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Full narrative

On August 11, 2012, at 1150 central daylight time, a Cessna 177RG, N1564H, impacted terrain during initial climb from an aborted landing on runway 36 at Litchfield Municipal Airport (3LF), Litchfield, Illinois. The private pilot received minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed for the flight that departed from St. Louis Regional Airport, Alton, Illinois, about 1130 and was en route to 3LF.

The pilot stated that during landing, the airplane veered to the left and headed toward airport lighting equipment. The pilot performed an aborted landing, and during the initial climb, the airplane stalled and impacted trees. The airplane then landed on a bean field.

The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction/failure with the airplane at the time of the accident.

The pilot's recommendation of how the accident could have been prevented was, "Better control upon landing [and] recognition of crosswind conditions."

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during the landing and the subsequent aborted landing. The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident.

Circumstances

Event type
Accident
Highest injury
None
Weather conditions
Visual Meteorological Cond
Light condition
Day
Sky condition
NONE
Ceiling (ft)
0
Visibility (sm)
10
Wind direction
320
Wind speed (kt)
12
Temperature (F)
77
Nearest airport
Litchfield Municipal Airport
Distance from field
0.0
Airport elevation
691

Aircraft

RegistrationMakeModelDamageFAR part
N1564H — — SUBS 091

Sequence of events

#OccurrencePhase
1 Landing-aborted after touchdown Loss of control on ground defining Cruise
2 Initial climb Loss of control in flight Takeoff
3 Uncontrolled descent Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) Descent

Findings

Finding
Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained cause
Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Airspeed-Not attained/maintained cause
Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot cause