Peoria International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Peoria, Illinois 61607
Wednesday, January 23, 2013 20:50 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private pilot reported that during the takeoff, shortly after rotation, the airplane’s nose pitched downward and the airplane bounced on the runway. He stated that after the first bounce, the flight instructor took control and that the airplane bounced several more times before coming to rest on its nose. The flight instructor reported that preflight and pretakeoff checks were performed, no airplane deficiencies were noted, and the elevator trim was set for takeoff. He added that he took control after the first bounce and attempted to abort the takeoff. The airplane bounced violently four or five more times. The flight instructor attempted to stop the airplane by retarding the throttle, applying up elevator for aerodynamic braking, and trying to keep the nosewheel off of the ground. The airplane’s nose landing gear had collapsed and the firewall and fuselage had sustained damage. Although the flight instructor said that the elevator trim was set for takeoff, postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the elevator trim was in the full nose-down position. Although it could not be definitively determined, it is likely that the pilot inadvertently actuated the electric trim switch on the yoke before takeoff. Examination of the airplane's control system revealed no anomalies that existed before the accident that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s inadvertent activation of the electric trim to the nose-down position, which resulted in the airplane being improperly configured for takeoff, and the flight instructor’s incorrect remedial action that allowed the airplane to porpoise.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/23/2013
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 2050
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Peoria
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 61607
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 403951N
Event Location Longitude 0894136W
Event Location Airport Peoria International Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PIA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 661
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2054 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID PIA
Elevation of weather observation facility 661
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Night
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -5
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 19
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.24
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report 201301240254 METAR KPIA 240254Z 33010G19KT 290V350
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 31236
NTSB Notification Source FAA - AGL - ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 14 2013 2:44PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5113J
NTSB Number CEN13CA142
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172S
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 172S10925
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 7 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1480
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C126
Aircraft Owner Name UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2000 UNIVERSITY AVE
Aircraft Owner City DUBUQUE
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 52001-5050
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 2000 UNIVERSITY AVE
Operator City DUBUQUE
Operator State IA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 52001-5050
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code PIA
Departure City Peoria
Departure State IL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 2050
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code DBQ
Destination City Dubuque
Destination State IA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 10 2013 4:16PM
User who most recently changed record brajo
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 31
Runway Length 10104
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --