Cessna 172 accident near Murphysboro, Illinois, February 1, 2013
On February 1, 2013 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N546A, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Murphysboro, Illinois (Southern Illinois Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during the takeoff roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 1, 2013 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Murphysboro, Illinois · Southern Illinois Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 R · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N546A · registry record · serial 17281594
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was attempting a soft field takeoff on a paved runway. He advanced the throttle to the full forward position and applied full back pressure on the flight controls to begin the takeoff roll. However, the airplane veered to the left. The pilot tried to counteract the veer by applying right rudder and when that was unsuccessful, elected to reject the takeoff. The airplane’s horizontal stabilizer was substantially damaged when the airplane exited the runway and struck a frangible airport sign. Postaccident examination revealed no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Attempted remediation/recovery during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 167 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 66 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 25, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 213 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 11, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Southern Illinois University
The flight
- Departed from: MDH Carbondale IL at 8:00 pm
- Destination: MDH Carbondale IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18R, 3,498 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 3°F (-16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.44 inHg
- Observation at 7:52 pm from kmdh
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.
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.