# NTSB ATL89FA059: Cessna 172, N8193B, Wadsworth, OH, December 24, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 24, 1988, 12:10 local (17:10 UTC)
- Place: Wadsworth, OH
- Coordinates: 41.020885, -81.729621 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0209&lon=-81.7296&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 29, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7869
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89FA059
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7869/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89FA059

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr flight into imc - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - self-induced pressure, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, maneuvering
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

PIC & FUTURE SON-IN-LAW CAME TO ARPT TO FLY ACFT. WX WAS LOW CEILINGS & VIZ DUE TO FOG. PIC DID NOT HAVE INSTRUMENT RATING. THE SON-IN-LAW, AN ARMY CAPTAIN, WAS SKED TO LEAVE FOR OVERSEAS ASSIGNMENT SHORTLY. CLOSEST ARPT WHICH RPTED WX, 15 MILES SOUTHEAST, INDICATED THAT THE CEILINGS WERE RAGGED & THE TEMP/DEW POINT WAS 1 DEGREE APART. THE PILOT DID NOT OBTAIN A WX BRIEFING. OTHER PILOTS WERE SURPRISED WHEN THE PIC DEPARTED AND NOTED HE THROTTLED BACK ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF. THE ACFT WAS FOUND IN A FIELD ABOUT 3 MILES NE OF THE ARPT. IT WAS LOCATED IN THE APPROXIMATE AREA FOR A DOWNWIND LEG TO RUNWAY 21 AT WELTZIEN SKYPARK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8193B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8193B-1989-04-12), registration cancelled 1989-04-12, S/N 29993 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 29993
- Airframe hours: 2754
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-A 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Otto Zahler, John Schmidt
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1988, 28 hours before
- Airport: 15G, Weltzien Skypark

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 288 total, 188 in this make and model, 226 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 200 ft overcast
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CAK, 15 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 19881224056949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881224056949A), Dec 24, 1988: Cessna 172, Wadsworth, OH, Destroyed, 2 fatal. VFR pilot took off into near zero ceiling and visibility. Crashed while trying to circle land.

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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