- Date
- November 22, 1997, 18:15 local (23:15 UTC)
- Place
- Opa Locka, FL
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N45834Cessna 182P
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report May 21, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19971122041119A
- Case key
- 3946
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 flight into adverse weather conditions, and failure to maintain clearance above the ground while attempting a VFR approach to an airport with low clouds. The low clouds (ceiling) and condition of light at dusk were related factors.
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
According to the pilot, he was flying over the Everglades in 'less than ideal conditions.' Darkness was falling, and he was unable to tell where the sky ended and the ground began. As he approached his destination, he saw 'low clouds' near the airport and began a descent to go under the clouds. During his descent, the airplane struck the ground. The pilot reported the last altimeter reading was 600 feet. The altimeter was set before departure.
Factual narrative
On November 22, 1997, about 1815 eastern standard time, a Cessna 182P, N45834, collided with the ground during cruise flight near Opa Locka, Florida. The airplane was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan was not filed for this personal flight. The private pilot sustained minor injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight departed Placid Lakes Airport, Lake Placid, Florida at 1730.
According to the pilot, he was flying to Opa Locka, over the Everglades, in "less than ideal conditions". It was dark outside and he was unable to tell where the ground ended and the sky began. As he approached the airport, he saw some "low clouds" in front of the airport. He started to descend to go under the clouds, and struck the ground. His last altimeter reading was 600 feet. According to the pilot, the altimeter was set before takeoff.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N45834
- Reported as
- Cessna 182P
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18263897
- Airframe hours
- 2,438
- Engine
- Continental O-470-S, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Alfred Underwood
- Registered owner
- Lake Placid Marine
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 8, 1997 · 13 hours before
- Departed
- 8X6 · Placid Lakes, FL
- Destination
- OPF · FL
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
- 67
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 440 total · 415 in this make and model · 395 as pilot in command · 3 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 225° at 8 knots
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MIA, 10 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.