Moline, IL, USA
N80213
Cessna 172M
The rental airplane returned with impact damage to its right wing, which was consistent with a tree strike. The pilot stated that he felt a bump while on a turn from base to final. The pilot stated he saw something with his right eye when he felt the bump. He added power and thought he had impacted something with the landing gear. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the local flight.
On December 5, 2002, at 1945 central standard time, a Cessna 172M, N80213, operated by Flying Country Club as a rental airplane, returned with substantial damage after a local flight in the traffic pattern for runway 31 (7,001 feet by 150 feet, concrete) at Quad City International Airport, Moline, Illinois. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The local flight originated at 1915. The pilot reported he had climbed to pattern altitude after departure and was performing a left traffic pattern. The pilot stated he "saw something out of [his] right eye" while turning from base to final, and subsequently he increased engine power to full. The pilot further reported he felt a "bump." The pilot indicated he thought he had struck something with his landing gear. The pilot reported he landed the airplane and taxied back to the hanger. The pilot further reported that the right wing had been damaged. The right wing leading edge was crushed inward and contained debris consistent with a tree strike.
The pilot's failure to maintain altitude clearance during a base to final turn on approach. Contributing factors to the accident were the night conditions and the trees.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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