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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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February 7, 1982 · Cessna 172 · N9893J

Benton Harbor, MI

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 7, 1982
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (4 uninjured)
Location
Benton Harbor, MI
Aircraft
Cessna 172
Tail Number
N9893J
Operator
Avsat
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI82DA041

The pilot received a weather briefing at 1030 EST for a cross-country flight. The cross-country originated at Benton Harbor at 1100 EST using runway 27. At that time, the runway was bare and dry. The flight proceeded to Battle Creek and Kalamazoo, and then returned to Benton Harbor at about 1415 EST. Before arriving, the pilot called Benton Harbor for wind and runway conditions, but received no reply. While entering the traffic pattern, the pilot observed the wind from about 200 degrees and saw small finger-like drifts protruding out onto runway 27 for about 1/4 of its width. Runways 13/31 and 18/36 had not been plowed for 4 weeks and were closed. Considering the remaining width of runway 27 and its excellent condition at 1100 EST, the pilot elected to land even though there was a moderate-to-strong crosswind. On touchdown, glare ice was encountered on the entire width of the runway. As the aircraft slowed, the wind blew it off of the right side where it momentarily went up on its nose.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING AT 1030 EST FOR A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. THE CROSS-COUNTRY ORIGINATED AT BENTON HARBOR AT 1100 EST USING RUNWAY 27. AT THAT TIME, THE RUNWAY WAS BARE AND DRY. THE FLIGHT PROCEEDED TO BATTLE CREEK AND KALAMAZOO, AND THEN RETURNED TO BENTON HARBOR AT ABOUT 1415 EST. BEFORE ARRIVING, THE PILOT CALLED BENTON HARBOR FOR WIND AND RUNWAY CONDITIONS, BUT RECEIVED NO REPLY. WHILE ENTERING THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, THE PILOT OBSERVED THE WIND FROM ABOUT 200 DEGREES AND SAW SMALL FINGER-LIKE DRIFTS PROTRUDING OUT ONTO RUNWAY 27 FOR ABOUT 1/4 OF ITS WIDTH. RUNWAYS 13/31 AND 18/36 HAD NOT BEEN PLOWED FOR 4 WEEKS AND WERE CLOSED. CONSIDERING THE REMAINING WIDTH OF RUNWAY 27 AND ITS EXCELLENT CONDITION AT 1100 EST, THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A MODERATE-TO-STRONG CROSSWIND. ON TOUCHDOWN GLARE ICE WAS ENCOUNTERED ON THE ENTIRE WIDTH OF THE RUNWAY. AS THE AIRCRAFT SLOWED, THE WIND BLEW IT OFF OF THE RIGHT SIDE WHERE IT MOMENTARILY WENT UP ON ITS NOSE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:15 EST
Nearest AirportRoss Field (0nm N)
Runway27
Runway Length5100 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172
Tail NumberN9893J
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorAvsat
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-H2AD · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (4 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured4
Total4
Crew 1Age 30 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind15 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point50 / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data