# NTSB ATL90FA118: Cessna 182RG, N55AG, Highland, NC, May 22, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 22, 1990, 15:10 local (19:10 UTC)
- Place: Highland, NC
- Coordinates: 35.049072, -83.189292 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0491&lon=-83.1893&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 23, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8132
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL90FA118
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8132/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL90FA118

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S ATTEMPTED VFR FLIGHT IN IMC. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT ARE THE PILOT'S INACCURATE WEATHER EVALUATION AND POOR IN FLIGHT DECISION.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - low ceiling
  - weather evaluation - inaccurate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly

## Analysis

THE PILOT FILED A FLIGHT PLAN INTO AN AIRPORT WITHOUT AN INSTRUMENT PROCEDURE. WEATHER CONDITIONS AROUND THE AIRPORT WERE NOT VISUAL, AND THE HIGH TERRAIN WAS OBSCURED BY CLOUDS. THE PILOT CANCELED HIS INSTRUMENT CLEARANCE AND ATTEMPTED A VISUAL ENTRY. HE COLLIDED WITH A 4200 FOOT RIDGE 15 MILES FROM THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. WEATHER AT THE AIRPORT WAS 2000 FEET WITH 7 MILES VISIBILITY. THE FIELD ELEVATION IS 2020 FEET. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED INTO THE ROCKY FACE OF THE MOUNTAIN AND WAS RESTRAINED FROM SLIDING DOWN SLOPE BY VEGETATION. THE WRECKAGE BURNED AND WAS LOCATED 6 DAYS AFTER THE CRASH. WRECKAGE EXAMINATION FAILED TO REVEAL MECHANICAL PROBLEMS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N55AG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N55AG-1991-03-21), registration cancelled 1991-03-21, S/N R18200076 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182RG
- Registry model: [Cessna R182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r182) (registry code 2072734) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: RG18200076
- Airframe hours: 1975
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-J3C5D 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: John E. Godwin Jr.
- Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1989, 165 hours before
- Departed: GSO, GREENSBORO, NC
- Destination: 1A5, FRANKLIN, NC

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 77; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 20,000 total, 1,975 in this make and model, 20,000 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft broken
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19900522020319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900522020319A), May 22, 1990: Cessna R182, Highland, NC, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Flew into side of cloud obscured mountain after canceling IFR. Was trying to land at field without IFR approaches.

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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