# NTSB ATL91FA043: Cessna 337C, N2589S, Bryson City, NC, January 27, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 27, 1991, 18:45 local (23:45 UTC)
- Place: Bryson City, NC
- Coordinates: 35.419017, -83.439605 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4190&lon=-83.4396&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 9, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8308
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL91FA043
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8308/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL91FA043

## Probable cause

THE INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN BY THE NONINSTRUMENT RATED PILOT.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - normal
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - low ceiling

## Analysis

THE FLIGHT DEPARTED CLEVELAND, TENNESSEE EN ROUTE TO SYLVA, NORTH CAROLINA.  ACCORDING TO THE CO-OWNER OF THE AIRCRAFT, HE HAD ADVISED THE NONINSTRUMENT RATED PILOT NOT TO ATTEMPT THE FLIGHT DUE TO THE POOR WEATHER CONDITIONS WHICH EXISTED IN THE MOUNTAINOUS AREA.  THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE WAS FOUND NEAR THE TOP OF A RIDGE LINE AT 5,200 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL.  THE WRECKAGE WAS DISTRIBUTED OVER AN AREA APPROXIMATELY 1,200 FEET IN LENGTH.  WITNESSES IN THE AREA OF THE ACCIDENT SITE REPORTED THAT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE WEATHER WAS LESS THAN THAT REQUIRED FOR FLIGHT UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2589S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2589S-2014-09-22), registration cancelled 2014-09-22, S/N 337-0889, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 337C
- Registry model: [Cessna 337C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-337c) (registry code 2075712) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 337-0889
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-360-C 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Vernon, Barron I & Christopher
- Registered owner: Vernon, Barron I & Christopher
- Departed: HDI, CLEVELAND, TN
- Destination: 24A, SYLVA, NC

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 260 total, 77 in this make and model, 171 as pilot in command, 46 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dusk
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast
- 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 19910127001249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910127001249A), Jan 27, 1991: Cessna 337C, Bryson City, NC, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Struck trees on mountain top en route in IMC. No record of weather brief. Pilots son had advised cancel due weather

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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