- Date
- November 2, 1989, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place
- Darlington, SC
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N58735Cessna 182P
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 30, 1991
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19891102044399A
- Case key
- 8103
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's continued VFR flight into IMC and his attempt to land the airplane under the adverse weather conditions.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While attempting a visual approach to an uncontrolled airport, the airplane collided with trees about two miles north east. The pilot reported over the airport, and would look for a hole to descend through for a visual landing. Seconds later the airplane crashed. The investigation failed to disclose any mechanical problems. The pilot was not certificated. His student pilot's certificate had expired and there was no current solo endorsement. The UNICOM operator reported low ceiling and rain at the airport when the pilot was attempting the landing approach.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N58735
- Reported as
- Cessna 182P
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 182-62264
- Airframe hours
- 2,868
- Engine
- Continental O-470R, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- A.R. Russell Builders
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 1, 1989 · 51 hours before
- Departed
- RDU · Raleigh, NC
- Airport
- 04J · Darlington County
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 46
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 206 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 350° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 500 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 59 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FLO
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.