# Accident 20030214005299A: Cessna 172N, Wellington, KS, February 14, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 14, 2003, 21:00 local time
- Place: Wellington, KS
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.1900° N, 97.3331° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1900&lon=-97.3331&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5898E, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5898E-2005-04-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172N (registry code 2072434, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 152 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI03FA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03FA071) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030214005299A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) THE PILOT CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO MARGINAL VFR CONDITIONS. HE ENCOUNTERED LOWERING CEILINGS AND REQUESTED ASSISTANCE FROM WICHITA APPROACH CONTROL. THE AIRCRAFT WAS GIVEN A SUGGESTED HEADING OF 090 DEGREES, WHICH WAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED. THE AIRCRAFT DISAPPEARED FROM RADAR SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE WRECKAGE WAS DISCOVERED THE NEXT DAY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED AND THE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI03FA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03FA071), Feb 15, 2003: Cessna 172N (N5898E), Wellington, KS, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: Spatial disorientation experienced by the pilot and his subsequent failure to maintain control of the aircraft. Contributing factors were the pilot's failure to obtain an updated preflight weather…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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