Cessna 172 accident near Monticello, Indiana, October 25, 2008
On October 25, 2008 at about 9:10 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N54971, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Monticello, Indiana (White County Airporr airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot stalled the airplane during a go-around. Contributing to the accident included the pilot's improper in-flight decision, the tailwind landing, and the pilot's failure to put the carburetor Heat to "OFF" during the go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 25, 2008 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Monticello, Indiana · White County Airporr · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 P · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N54971 · no longer on the register · serial 17275095
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and three passengers in a Cessna 172P, which had 40 gallons of fuel on board, were on final approach to runway 36 after a 30 minute flight. The pilot reported that when the airplane was about 50 feet above ground level (agl), he executed a go-around because it felt like the winds were pushing the airplane left of the runway. He pushed in the throttle, raised the flaps 1 notch, and gradually raised the airplane's pitch attitude. (He did not push in the Carburetor Heat to the OFF position.) He reported that the airplane stalled and subsequently nosed over when the propeller impacted the terrain. The airport manager observed the airplane approaching from the south and landing on runway 36 even though the winds were out of the south. He reported that the pilot attempted to go-around when the airplane was about 15 feet agl, but the airplane stalled as it attempted to climb at low airspeed with a tailwind component. The airport manager noted that the winds were 220 degrees at 12 knots. A windsock and wind "T" were installed at the airport.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR go-around)
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Contributed to outcome
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel control/carburetor › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Flight planning/navigation › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 155 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 145 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Lafayette Aviation Inc
The flight
- Departed from: LAF West Lafayette IN at 8:30 pm
- Destination: MCX Monticello IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 4,002 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,700 ft; scat at 3,400 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 8:54 pm from LAF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.