Cessna 172I accident near Rockford, Illinois, January 19, 2009
On January 19, 2009 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172I, registered N35571, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Rockford, Illinois (Cottonwood Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inability to maintain directional control during the landing roll after contacting a low-lying snow bank that was obscured by drifting snow.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 19, 2009 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Rockford, Illinois · Cottonwood Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172I · all 172Is on the register
- Registration
- N35571 · no longer on the register · serial 17256842
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non-instrument-rated pilot reported that the cloud ceiling and visibility began to deteriorate about 10 minutes after his departure on a 60-nautical-mile cross-country flight. He located the nearest airport, a snow-covered grass runway, and decided to land in lieu of continuing into the deteriorating weather conditions. There was a 65-foot-wide plowed path in the runway that was bordered by snowdrifts. During landing, the airplane struck a low-lying snow bank that was obscured by drifting snow. The airplane then veered left and struck a second snow bank causing substantial damage to the left wing. Prior to departure, the pilot obtained weather information for the planned route of flight using a commercial weather service. The lower cloud ceilings and visibilities were not forecast to begin until after the accident flight was planned to reach the intended destination.
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
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › Snow/slush/ice covered › Ability to respond/compensate
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 300 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 235 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 12, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,650 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 8, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KJVL Janesville WI at 10:30 pm
- Destination: KSQI Sterling IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,540 ft by 260 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 290° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 1.5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 18°F (-8°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 10:49 pm from KRFD, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N35571 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.