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CHI01FA234

2001-07-22 · Benton, Illinois, United States · Fatal · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport H96

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, resulting in a stall.

Factual narrative

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On July 22, 2001, about 1840 central daylight time, a Cessna 177, N235LA, piloted by an airline transport pilot, was destroyed on impact with objects and terrain during initial climb from runway 36 (2,720 feet by 60 feet, asphalt) at Benton Municipal Airport (H96), near Benton, Illinois. A post impact fire occurred. The personal flight was operating under 14 CFR part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The flight was originating from H96 at the time of the accident and was destined for Warsaw Municipal Airport (ASW), near Warsaw, Indiana. A person representing N235LA placed a call to the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) St. Louis Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) between 1813 and 1821. During that time that person requested a weather update between H96 and Terre Haute, Indiana. The pilot stated his intended destination was ASW. The FAA supplied a tape recording and transcript of that briefing given from Preflight Briefer 10 position (PF10) at St Louis AFSS. The first communication time listed was 2313:54 Zulu, which is 1813:54 central daylight time. An excerpt from the transcript stated the following. TIME & IDENT COMMUNICATION 2313:54 PF10 SAINT LOUIS FLIGHT SERVICE 2313:55 N235LA YES SIR, MA'AM UH, I'M IN A CESSNA NOVEMBER TWO THREE FIVE LIMA ALPHA AT BENTON AND UH, WE WERE GOING TO TERRE HAUTE BUT WEATHER GOT A LITTLE BAD SO I LANDED HERE UH, CAN YOU GIVE ME AN UPDATE ON WHAT'S GOING ON BETWEEN HERE AND TERRE HAUTE? 2314:12 PF10 AND WHERE DID YOU SAY YOU LANDED? 2314:14 N235LA UH, BENTON, I BELIEVE, B E N T O N 2314:17 PF10 YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW THAT IDENTIFIER, PROBABLY NOT HUH? 2314:20 N235LA NO, AND THEY, THE BUILDING'S LOCKED, I'M OUTSIDE AT THE PHONES, I 2314:23 PF10 ALRIGHT 2314:23 N235LA WELL, I CAN TELL YOU THIS, I'M ABOUT A HUNDRED MILES SOUTHWEST OF TERRE HAUTE 2314:30 PF10 A HUNDRED MILES SOUTHWEST OF TERRE HAUTE 2314:32 N235LA MORE OR LESS 2314:33 PF10 MORE OR LESS 2314:34 N235LA UH HUH 2314:35 PF10 OKAY, HOLD ON JUST A MINUTE 2314:37 N235LA OKAY 2314:38 PF10 AND LET ME TAKE A LOOK HERE 2314:40 N235LA YEAH, YOU KNOW IT LOOKS MUCH BETTER STANDING ON THE GROUND THAN FLYING AROUND IN IT 2314:44 PF10 I CAN BELIEVE THAT 2314:45 N235LA AND WE'RE JUST V F R TYPES SO 2314:47 PF10 IT'S A WHOLE LOT SAFER DOING IT THAT WAY TOO 2314:49 N235LA YES, I, I'M GLAD TO BE ON THE GROUND, NOT THAT THERE WAS ANY PROBLEMS BUT 2314:53 PF10 YEAH 2314:54 N235LA YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING 2314:55 PF10 I KNOW EXACTALY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING 2314:56 N235LA OKAY 2314:58 PF10 AND LET'S SEE, TERRE HAUTE, HUNDRED MILES TO THE SOUTHWEST 2315:04 N235LA UH HUH 2315:12 N235LA THERE'S A BIG LAKE OVER HERE, LOOKS LIKE A RECREATION AREA 2315:16 PF10 UHM 2315:17 N235LA BUT THAT'S NOT UNUSUAL IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD 2315:18 PF10 NO, THAT ISN'T, IS IT 2315:27 PF10 TRYING TO FIGURE OUT JUST WHERE YOU ARE 2315:30 N235LA WELL LET ME ASK YOU THIS, WHAT IS THE TERRE HAUTE WEATHER? 2315:33 PF10 OKAY 2315:33 N235LA CURRENTLY, AND THEIR FORECAST 2315:36 PF10 ALRIGHT, HOLD ON JUST, JUST A MOMENT, I THINK I CAN DO THIS ANOTHER WAY 2315:39 N235LA OKAY 2315:49 PF10 HOTEL NINETY-SIX, THAT'S WHERE YOU ARE, HOTEL NINETY-SIX 2315:53 N235LA OH, OKAY, IS THAT BENTON? 2315:55 PF10 THAT'S BENTON ILLINOIS 2315:57 N235LA OKAY 2315:58 PF10 AND 2315:58 N235LA NICE LITTLE AIRPORT 2316:00 PF10 YEAH, JUST IF IT HAD AN OPEN DOOR IT'D HELP, HUH? 2316:03 N235LA WELL, IT'S SUNDAY 2316:04 PF10 IT IS AND IT IS GETTING A LITTLE LATER 2316:07 N235LA IT'S GETTING LATER 2316:09 PF10 OKAY, HOTEL NINETY-SIX, IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE YOU OUGHT TO BE, ACTUALLY A LITTLE WEST, NORTHWEST OF TERRE HAUTE 2316:17 N235LA NNNNO, NO, WE'RE SOUTHWEST, I KNOW THAT 2316:22 PF10 THEN MAYBE YOU'RE NOT IN BENTON 2316:23 N235LA NA, MUST NOT, MY NAVIGATOR PROBABLY MESSED UP BECAUSE WE'VE FLOWN ALL THE WAY FROM SAN ANTONIO TEXAS AND WE BEEN GOING NORTHEAST THE WHOLE WAY 2316:32 PF10 OKAY, WELL, THAT COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE IF YOU'RE IN BENTON, THERE'S NOTHING BETWEEN YOU AND TERRE HAUTE HOWEVER IF YOU'RE A HUNDRED MILES, IF YOU'RE IN ONE HOTEL TWO WHICH IS UHM, UH, WHERE I HAVE A KIND OF SUSPICION YOU MAY BE 2316:47 N235LA OKAY 2316:51 PF10 THAT ONE IS CALLED EFFINGHAM ILLINOIS, THAT IS A NICE LITTLE AIRPORT 2316:55 N235LA OH, YOU BEEN HERE? 2316:56 PF10 UH, YES 2316:58 N235LA OKAY 2316:58 PF10 BUT I'M NOT TO SAY THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH BENTON, BUT IT'S, IT'S CLOSER TO WHERE YOU'RE DESCRIBING YOURSELF BEING 2317:05 N235LA EFFINGHAM, YOU MEAN 2317:06 PF10 EFFINGHAM 2317:07 N235LA EFFINGHAM, OKAY 2317:08 PF10 YEAH, AND THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A THUNDERSTORM WEST OF YOU ABOUT TWENTY MILES, DO YOU SEE BUILDUPS TO THE WEST? 2317:13 N235LA YES 2317:14 PF10 DUE WEST 2317:15 N235LA UH HUH 2317:15 PF10 YEAH, I HAVE A SUSPICION YOU'RE ACTUALLY AT EFFINGHAM 2317:17 N235LA OKAY 2317:18 PF10 AND THAT WOULD PUT YOU JUST KIND OF WEST SOUTHWEST OF UH, TERRE HAUTE 2317:21 N235LA THAT'S, I'M SURE THAT'S CLOSE 2317:22 PF10 ABOUT A HUNDRED MILES 2317:23 N235LA OKAY 2317:24 PF10 UH, THOSE THUNDERSTORMS TO THE WEST OF YOU IS THE ONLY THING EVEN VAGUELY CLOSE TO YOUR ROUTE OF FLIGHT 2317:28 N235LA REALLY? 2317:29 PF10 YEAH 2317:30 N235LA OH WELL 2317:31 PF10 THE REST OF ITS PRETTY MUCH DISSIPATED, IT'S, IT'S REALLY DIMINISHED 2317:33 N235LA OKAY A witness observed the airplane taking off to the north from H96. The witness demonstrated the angle the airplane was climbing at, an angle of approximately 45-degrees. She stated that she heard what she thought was thunder. She saw smoke and called 911. A FAA inspector interviewed two witnesses. The report of their interview stated that they were at a stop at 1817 and they saw an airplane coming from the northeast going southwest. They thought it was landing at the airport. Approximately 20 minutes later they saw the airplane again coming from the northeast going southwest. They heard two loud claps of thunder and saw lightning strike in the vicinity of the airport. They reported that after the second clap of thunder, they saw smoke coming from the boat factory. The said that the whole northern sky was black and they could hear thunder. They stated they did not see the airplane strike the ground. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector interviewed fire department personnel that were the first on the scene. A responding fireman stated that the rain began approximately three minutes after fire trucks arrived. The fireman said that there was frequent lightning and thunder prior to the start of the rain and while it was raining.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with an airplane multiengine land rating and commercial privileges for single-engine land airplanes. On his application for his FAA second-class medical certificate, dated October 3, 2000, the pilot reported that he had accumulated 5,600 total flight hours. He reported he had flown 0 hours in the past 6 months. That certificate was issued with two limitations. One limitation was that the certificate was "valid for 12 months following the month examined" and the other limitation was that he "must wear corrective lenses for near and distant vision." The front seat passenger held a FAA third-class medical certificate, dated July 17, 2000, that was issued with no limitations. On the application for that certificate, the pilot checked the application box for "Airmen Medical and Student Pilot Certificate. He reported that he had accumulated 0 total flight hours and had flown 0 hours in the past 6 months. The passenger was the accident airplane's registered owner.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The accident airplane, N235LA, was a 1968 Cessna 177, Cardinal, serial number 17700297, single-engine, high-wing airplane with fixed landing gear. Its engine was a 150 horsepower Lycoming O-320-E2D engine, serial number L-20034-27A. Its propeller was a fixed pitch, two-bladed, McCauley TM 7653, serial number E8424. The airplane's logbooks were not located.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

At 1848, the Williamson County Regional Airport, near Marion, Illinois, weather was recorded as: Wind calm; sky condition scattered 2,500 feet scattered 9,500 feet; temperature 28 degrees C; dew point 22 degrees C; altimeter 29.87 inches of mercury.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

An on-scene investigation was conducted. The airplane impacted off-airport objects and terrain west of runway 36. The area impacted was a yard, adjoining the airport, that contained boats and boat construction media. There was tall grass in the yard. The grass exhibited a linear path, 75 feet long and 270 degrees as view toward the main wreckage. The pitot tube, propeller, and left door were found in this path. The propeller blades exhibited chordwise abrasion and scratches. The propeller shaft was found fractured. The airplane was found inverted, discolored and deformed. Sections of the fuselage and impacted boat media were found melted. The empennage's right horizontal stabilizer was found under the right wing. The right wing's leading edge was found crushed rearward from about its middle, outward. The left horizontal stabilizer was found deformed and melted. The rudder was found deformed, and melted. The left wing was found deformed, discolored, and melted. The throttle, mixture, and carburetor heat were found in the forward position. Valve train continuity was observed at all cylinders. All cylinders exhibited a thumb compression when the crankshaft was rotated. Both magnetos were found discolored and deformed. Removed spark plugs exhibited a gray color. Flight control continuity was established. Engine control continuity was established. A witness mark was found on the airspeed indicator at 93 mph. A blue colored fluid was found in the right wing's fuel tank. That fuel tank was ruptured. See appended photographs.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

The Franklin County Coroner's Office performed an autopsy on both the pilot and the passenger on July 24, 2001. The FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute prepared a Final Forensic Toxicology Accident Report. The reports were negative for both pilots.

FIRE

There was a post impact on-ground fire. The Benton Fire Department stated they received an alarm notification at 1842 and arrived on-scene at 1848. The department reported using 1,500 gallons of water to put out the fire. Sections of the airplane's left wing, empennage, and fuselage were consumed by the fire. Boat construction material in the area of the wreckage was discolored, melted, and charred. Tall grass in that area was discolored and charred.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Subsequent to the accident, the briefer working the Preflight 10 position at St Louis AFSS was decertified, given additional training, and has been reinstated. The parties to the investigation included the FAA, Cessna Aircraft Company, and Textron Lycoming. The aircraft wreckage was released to a representative of the towing company that recovered the wreckage. The airplane was destroyed on impact with objects and terrain during initial climb. A post impact on-ground fire occurred. A person representing N235LA called flight service for a weather update between Benton, Illinois (H96), and Terre Haute, Indiana. The person stated he was in H96 and during the brief said, "Yeah, you know it looks much better standing on the ground than flying around in it." the briefer said, "okay, well, that could make a difference because if you're in benton, there's nothing between you and terre haute however if you're a hundred miles, if you're in one hotel two which is uhm, uh, where i have a kind of suspicion you may be ... yeah, and there is a little bit of a thunderstorm west of you about twenty miles, do you see buildups to the west? ... yeah, i have a suspicion you're actually at effingham ... uh, those thunderstorms to the west of you is the only thing even vaguely close to your route of flight." A witness observed the airplane taking off to the north from H96. The witness demonstrated the angle the airplane was climbing at. That angle was about 45 degrees. She stated that she heard what she thought was thunder. She saw smoke and called 911. Two other witnesses stated they heard two loud claps of thunder and saw lightning strike in the vicinity of the airport. They reported that after the second clap of thunder, they saw smoke coming from the boat factory. They said that the whole northern sky was black and they could hear thunder. They stated that they did not see the airplane strike the ground. Rain began falling after the accident occured. An on-scene investigation was conducted and no pre-impact anomalies were found. Subsequent to the accident, the weather briefer was decertified, given additional training, and had been reinstated. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2001_CHI01FA234.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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