Cessna 170A accident near Atwood, Illinois, June 24, 2006
On June 24, 2006 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Cessna 170A, registered N9204A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Atwood, Illinois (Cooch Landing Area airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power during approach due to carburetor ice and the uneven terrain encountered during the forced landing which caused the airplane to nose over. Weather conducive to carburetor icing was a contributing factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 2006 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Atwood, Illinois · Cooch Landing Area · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170A · all 170As on the register
- Registration
- N9204A · registry record · serial 18965
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was substantially damaged when it nosed over during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The pilot stated that the airplane was approximately 3 miles from the intended destination when the engine abruptly lost power. She noted that the propeller initially stopped and then began to windmill. She recalled checking the oil pressure and temperature indications, which were both within the green arc. The pilot reported that she applied carburetor heat after the loss of engine power with no effect. She stated that the airplane was outside of power-off gliding distance to the airport and she set-up for a forced landing to a soybean field below the aircraft. The pilot landed successfully; however, she was unable to stop prior to reaching the edge of the field. The airplane encountered an 8-inch rise at the edge of the field and nosed over. A post accident inspection did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a loss of engine power. The engine was subsequently test run. The engine ran smoothly and no discrepancies in its operation were observed. The temperature and dew point in the vicinity of the accident site were 26 degrees and 15 degrees Celsius, respectively. Data indicated the possibility of moderate carburetor icing at cruise power and serious icing at descent power under those conditions.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 567 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 445 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,817 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-145 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GRE Greenville IL at 4:56 pm
- Destination: Atwood IL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from CMI, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI06CA167.