# NTSB ATL82FA263: Cessna 170A, N9263A, Brunswick, GA, September 4, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 4, 1982, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Brunswick, GA
- Coordinates: 31.149482, -81.480506 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.1495&lon=-81.4805&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 4, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70059
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL82FA263
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70059/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL82FA263

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent

## Analysis

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT WAS ON A FLIGHT FROM IRONTON, OH TO DAYTONA BEACH, FL WITH AN EN ROUTE STOP AT COLUMBIA, SC. HE OBTAINED A WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO DEPARTING IRONTON, BUT DID NOT UPDATE IT AFTER LANDING AT COLUMBIA. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED ON THE 2ND LEG OF THE FLIGHT IN AN AREA WHERE A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS HAD PASSED THROUGH. BASED ON THE CRUISE SPEED OF THE AIRCRAFT AND ITS DISTANCE FROM THE DEPARTURE POINT, THE PLANE CRASHED AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME THE THUNDERSTORMS HAD OCCURRED. THE INITIAL IMPACT OCCURRED IN A MARSHY AREA NEXT TO HERMITAGE ISLAND. TIRE PRINTS WERE VISIBLE AT LOW TIDE IN THE MARSHY GROUND. AFTER THE INITIAL IMPACT, THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED 110 FT AND HIT A LARGE PALM TREE ON THE ISLAND AND WAS DESTROYED. THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS RUPTURED, BUT THE LEFT TANK REMAINED INTACT AND CONTAINED FUEL. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE WAS MADE, BUT NO PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURES WERE FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9263A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9263A-2013-05-22), registration cancelled 2013-05-22, S/N 19024, built 1949 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170A
- Registry model: [Cessna 170A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170a) (registry code 2072304) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 19024
- Airframe hours: 2834
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-A 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Leonard Heighton
- Registered owner: Leonard Heighton
- Departed: C, COLUMBIA, SC
- Destination: C, DAYTONA BEACH, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 282 total, 255 in this make and model, 242 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Day
- Temperature: 176 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19820904046779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820904046779A), Sep 4, 1982: Cessna 170A, Brunswick, FL, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Indicates VFR pilot was forced down in area of a thunderstorm. Collided with a palm tree after near level touchdown

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.

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