# NTSB ATL99LA013: Cessna 172N, N4696G, Lima, SC, November 8, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 8, 1998, 16:40 local (21:40 UTC) - Place: Lima, SC - Coordinates: 34.959205, -82.43032 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9592&lon=-82.4303&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 26, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45254 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL99LA013 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45254/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99LA013 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's intentional flight into Instrument Meteorological Conditions. Factors were trees and 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 (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - intentional, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, climb - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) ## Analysis The student pilot was at the controls of the airplane while navigating between mountains following a major highway. Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) were encountered and the flight instructor took over as Pilot-In-Command. A climb was initiated through IMC, on course, in order to attain Visual Meteorological Conditions above the lowered ceiling and mountainous terrain. Shortly after initiating the climb, the airplane collided with trees and mountainous terrain. ## Factual narrative On November 8, 1998, about 1640 Eastern Standard Time, a Cessna 172N, N4696G, collided with trees and mountainous terrain near Lima, South Carolina. The airplane was operated by the registered owner under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) prevailed at the accident site, and no flight plan was filed for the instructional flight. There were minor injuries to the owner/private pilot, no injuries to the flight instructor, and the airplane was destroyed. The flight originated in Hendersonville, North Carolina, about 1630 destined for Greenville, South Carolina. According to the student pilot, the airplane departed Hendersonville Airport with himself in the left seat and the flight instructor in the right seat. The student pilot was advised that the flight instructor would take over if IMC conditions were encountered during the flight. The student pilot was at the controls as the airplane was being navigated between mountains following a major highway. According to the student, he was advised to stay below the lowering overcast and follow Highway 25 to Greenville, South Carolina. After following a bend in the highway, IMC was encountered and the flight instructor took over as Pilot-In-Command. A climb was initiated through IMC, on course, in order to attain Visual Meteorological Conditions above the lowered ceiling and mountainous terrain. Shortly after initiating the climb, the airplane collided with trees and mountainous terrain. The flight instructor stated, "He failed to recall that the highway, and the valley, deviated to the west. Normally they would not descend below the tops of the mountains flying this route, but allowed themselves to descend rather than turn around when the cloud ceiling lowered." The flight instructor stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4696G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4696G-2012-11-27), registration cancelled 2012-11-27, S/N 17273322 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17273322 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Karl H. Kitze - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 0A7, HENDERSONVILLE, NC - Destination: GMU, GREENVILLE, SC - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 10,000 total, 500 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dusk - Wind: 240° at 8 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,800 ft overcast - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GSP, 14 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 19981108031849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981108031849A), Nov 8, 1998: Cessna 172N, Lima, SC, Destroyed. Pilot came on the frequency and advised that the acft had crashed into trees. (-23) pilot flew into IMC conditions while following interstate between mountains… ## Other investigations on N4696G (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI97LA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA062), Feb 1, 1997: Cessna 172N (N4696G), Fort Wayne, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate fuel management and fuel system exhaustion. A factor involved was the inadequate in-flight planning/decision. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.