# NTSB ATL85FA077: Cessna R182, N4716R, Crossville, TN, January 7, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 7, 1985, 15:10 local (21:10 UTC)
- Place: Crossville, TN
- Coordinates: 35.949054, -85.029693 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9491&lon=-85.0297&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6591
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL85FA077
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6591/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85FA077

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH WOODED, RISING TERRAIN AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 2800 FT MSL ON THE WEST SLOPE OF HINCH MOUNTAIN. A PASSENGER, WHO SURVIVED THE CRASH, BUT DIED LATER DUE TO BURNS, REPORTED THAT LIGHT CONDITIONS WERE DARK & SHE COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING OUTSIDE THE ACFT BEFORE IMPACT. SHE HEARD THE PLT REPORT ON THE RADIO THAT THERE WAS ICE ON THE ACFT. HE HAD OBTAINED 5 FSS WX BRIEFINGS PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. A COLD FRONTAL SYSTEM WAS ON HIS PROPOSED FLT PATH. THERE WERE NUMEROUS PLT REPORTS OF ICING CONDITIONS IN THE ST LOUIS AREA & IN TENNESSEE. ANOTHER PLT REPORTED ICE IN THE CLOUDS NEAR THE CRASH SITE. THE PLT OF N4716R HAD TOLD FRIENDS THAT HE HAD MUCH MORE FLT EXPERIENCE THAN HE ACTUALLY HAD. ALSO, HE TOLD THE FSS BRIEFERS HE WAS INSTRUMENT RATED. ABOUT 11 MI AWAY AT CROSSVILLE, TN, THE 1450 & 1526 CST WX WAS IN PART: 200 FT OBSCURED, VISIBILITY 1/2 MI WITH FOG, TEMP 32 DEG & DEW POINT 31 DEG. THE ELEV AT CROSSVILLE WAS 1881 FT. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED EVIDENCE THE ACFT WAS IN LEVEL, POWERED FLT WHEN IT CRASHED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4716R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4716R-2014-10-29), registration cancelled 2014-10-29, S/N R18200606, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA R182
- Registry model: [Cessna R182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r182) (registry code 2072734) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: R18200606
- Airframe hours: 1506
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-J3C5D 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: L. E. Mcneill
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 8, 1984, 70 hours before
- Departed: SPARTA, IL
- Destination: SWANSBORO, NC

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 260 total, 20 in this make and model, 60 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 10 knots
- Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CSV, 11 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 19850107000579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850107000579A), Jan 7, 1985: Cessna R182, Crossville, TN, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Flew into lowering visibility and ceiling as forecasted. Struck trees and rising terrain.

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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