Cessna 172N accident near Jacksonville, Illinois, June 18, 2022
On June 18, 2022 at about 1:40 pm local time, a 1978 Cessna 172N, registered N6797E, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Jacksonville, Illinois (Jacksonville Muni airport). It was an aerial observation 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 attain proper flare during landing, resulting in a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 18, 2022 · about 1:40 pm local time
- Place
- Jacksonville, Illinois · Jacksonville Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N, built 1978 · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N6797E · registry record · serial 17272069
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that prior to landing at the destination airport, she performed a low pass to assess the landing conditions. After the low pass, she decided to initiate a landing. During the touchdown, she reported the airplane “experienced possible windshear/wind shift” that induced a bounced landing. After bouncing again, the pilot was able to maintain control of the airplane until it came to a full stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine 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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 407 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 72 in the last 90 days; 32 in the last 30 days; 308 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 16, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,123.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 7, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320-A4M (piston); 7,363 hours total
- Operator: Optic Air LLC
The flight
- Departed from: SPI Springfield IL at 12:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 04, 4,001 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 8:35 am from KIJX, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KIJX 181335Z AUTO 08012KT 10SM CLR 21/14 A3020 RMK AO2 T02060141
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on February 7, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photographs | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot Email | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.