# NTSB ATL91FA054: Cessna 172, N8641B, Crossville, TN, February 14, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 14, 1991, 14:14 local (20:14 UTC)
- Place: Crossville, TN
- Coordinates: 35.950504, -85.029228 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9505&lon=-85.0292&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8313
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL91FA054
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8313/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL91FA054

## Probable cause

THE IMPROPER FLIGHT PLANNING BY THE NONINSTRUMENT RATED PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN HIS INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

## 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 condition - snow
  - weather condition - drizzle/mist
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE AIRPORT MANAGER AT ROCKWOOD, TENNESSEE, VFR CONDITIONS EXISTED AT ROCKWOOD; HOWEVER, HE COULD SEE DARK CLOUDS BEYOND THE MOUNTAIN TOWARD CROSSVILLE. THE FAA FLIGHT SERVICE STATION AT CROSSVILLE WAS REPORTING IMC CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THERE WAS NO RECORD OF ANY ATTEMPT BY THE PILOT OF N8641B TO OBTAIN THE CURRENT WEATHER. THE WRECKAGE WAS DISTRIBUTED OVER AN AREA APPROXIMATELY 336 FEET IN LENGTH ABOUT 2 MILES NORTH OF THE CROSSVILLE, TENNESSEE, AIRPORT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8641B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8641B-1991-07-08), registration cancelled 1991-07-08, S/N 36341 (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: 036341
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-A 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Hagen, Gary W.
- Registered owner: Hagen, Gary W.
- Departed: RKW, ROCKWOOD, TN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 130 total, 5 in this make and model, 52 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 11 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 800 ft broken
- Temperature: 36 °F
- Observed at: CSV, 4 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 19910214002389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910214002389A), Feb 14, 1991: Cessna 172, Crossville, TN, Destroyed, 1 fatal. In low clouds snow and freezing drizzle flew into trees while trying to locate airport. VFR flight not viable.

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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