# NTSB ATL83FIJ02: Cessna 182P, N7353S, Bluefield, WV, April 15, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: April 15, 1983, 11:34 local (16:34 UTC)
- Place: Bluefield, WV
- Coordinates: 37.260437, -81.210372 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2604&lon=-81.2104&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5964
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL83FIJ02
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5964/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL83FIJ02

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - proper glidepath - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - decision height - below, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE BEGAN AN ILS APPROACH TO THE MERCER COUNTY ARPT. HE STATED THAT HE PLANNED TO DESCEND TO 3200 FT MSL, THEN EXECUTE A MISSED APPROACH & RETURN TO ABINGTON, VA. THE ARPT ELEVATION WAS 2857 FT MSL. HE STATED THAT HE REMEMBERED GLANCING AT THE ALTIMETER AT 3200 FT, THAT HE LOOKED FOR THE RWY ENVIRONMENT, AND THAT HE WAS PREPARING TO EXECUTE THE MISSED APPROACH, WHEN THE ACFT SUDDENLY HIT TREES & CRASHED. THE IMPACT OCCURRED APRX 1/2 MI FROM THE APPROACH END OF RWY 23. THE WEATHER WAS: 100 FT OBSCURED, VISIBILITY 1/2 MI WITH FOG, TEMP 42 DEG, WIND FROM 280 DEG AT 5 KTS. THE ILS & VORTAC FACILITIES WERE FOUND TO BE OPERATIONAL. THE ACFT NAVCOMM UNIT, GLIDE SLOPE RECEIVER & COURSE INDICATOR HEAD WERE BENCH CHECKED & FOUND TO BE WITHIN TOLERANCES. THE ALTIMETER WAS TESTED & SHOWED A CONSIDERABLE ERROR AT EACH TEST POINT; BUT WAS NOT DISASSEMBLED TO DETERMINE IF INTERIM DAMAGE HAD OCCURRED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7353S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7353S-1993-05-14), registration cancelled 1993-05-14, S/N 18265144 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182P
- Registry model: [Cessna 182P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182p) (registry code 2075816) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18265144
- Airframe hours: 1270
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-S 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Industrial Gas And Supply Co.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 12, 1982, 96 hours before
- Departed: 6A8, ABINGDON, VA
- Destination: BLF, BLUEFIELD, WV
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: BLF, Mercer County, runway 23, 4,742 × 100 ft

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 2,536 total, 71 in this make and model, 2,355 as pilot in command, 144 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 5 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 100 ft
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BLF, 1 nm away

## 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 19830415014449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830415014449A), Apr 15, 1983: Cessna 182P, Bluefield, WV, Destroyed. Struck trees on a ILS approach. Pilot failed to observe minimum descent altitude. Possible altimeter error.

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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