CHI97LA141

Factual narrative

On May 16, 1997, at 1255 central daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N738LM, flown by a private pilot collided with VASI lights after traveling off the runway while landing at the Dane County Regional Airport, Madison, Wisconsin. The landing was being made on runway 18 (9,005' x 150'). The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The pilot was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The local flight originated from the Mineral Point, Wisconsin, at 1230 cdt. The pilot reported that when he checked the ATIS 25 to 30 miles away from the Dane County Regional Airport, the winds were reported as 200 degrees at 14 knots. He stated that during the landing on runway 18 the airplane bounced approximately 5 feet in the air. The pilot reported he added power to prevent the airplane from porpoising and it drifted to the left side of the runway where it touched down again. He reported he attempted to straighten out the heading, but the left main gear went off the runway into the grass, pulling the airplane further to the left. The airplane continued traveling on the grass where it contacted the runway VASI lights. A Dane County Airport weather observation taken at 1315, reported winds as 200 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The pilot was landing on runway 18 when the accident occurred. He reported that when he checked the ATIS prior to landing the winds were being reported as 200 degrees at 14 knots. The airplane bounced during the landing and the pilot added power to recover. The airplane was blown to the left of the runway where it touched down again. The airplane continued to travel to the left. It went off the side of the runway and traveled through the grass eventually contacting the VASI lights. A local observation taken 20 minutes after the accident reported winds from 200 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 18 knots. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12