BFO85FA071

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna R182 · Browntown, VA · August 24, 1985

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report
Date
August 24, 1985, 18:29 local (22:29 UTC)
Place
Browntown, VA
Injuries
2 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N7393YCessna R182
Weather
Instrument (IMC) · Day
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19850824042119A
Case key
11142

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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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.

In flight encounter with weatherCruise - normal
Preflight briefing service - inadequateAtc personnel(fss)Factor
Information insufficientPilot in commandFactor
Terrain condition - high terrainFactor
Weather condition - cloudsFactor
Weather condition - low ceilingFactor
Weather condition - turbulenceFactor
Weather condition - obscurationFactor
Vfr flight into imc - continuedPilot in commandCause
Lack of total experiencePilot in commandFactor
Lack of total instrument timePilot in commandFactor
In flight collision with terrain/waterCruise
DelayedPilot in commandCause
Terrain condition - mountainous/hillyFactor
Proper altitude - not maintainedPilot in commandCause

Analysis

Drg a wx briefing, flt prctns for ocnl mtn obscn & IMC were relayed to the plt, but he was not provided a forecast for thunderstorms, nor advised VFR flt was not rcmdd. The route of flt was portrayed as marginal VFR, as was the destn at morgantown (mgm). Also, the plt was advised the mgm wx was partially obscured, estd ceiling 1700' overcast, vis 1 mi with moderate rain & fog. The briefer termed these conds as marginal VFR & stated 'looks like they're forecasting to continue to deteriorate through tonight & become IFR by morning.' The non-instrument rated plt took off on the flt (to transport a pax to a high school reunion). They were to be met at the destn by family members. Subsequently, the acft struck the 2900' lvl of an obscured 3368' mtn btn manassas & mgm. The wreckage path was along a southeasterly direction toward manassas. The plt had recently flown about 1 hr of dual instruction in actual IMC, but his total instrument time was not determined. No preimpact part failure or malfunction was fnd.

Aircraft

Registration
N7393Y
Reported as
Cessna R182
Category
Airplane
Serial number
R18200133
Airframe hours
1,661
Engine
Lycoming O-540-J3C5D, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Fire
On-Ground
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Dulles Aviation
Registered owner
Howard Plye, III
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · May 31, 1985 · 68 hours before
Departed
W10 · Manassas, VA
Destination
MGW · Morgantown, WV

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
23
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Toxicology
Performed
Flight hours
150 total · 6 in this make and model · 9 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Instrument (IMC) · Day
Wind
160° at 4 knots
Temperature
66 °F, dew point 63 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
MRB, 36 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.