# NTSB BFO85FA071: Cessna R182, N7393Y, Browntown, VA, August 24, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 24, 1985, 18:29 local (22:29 UTC)
- Place: Browntown, VA
- Coordinates: 38.8306, -78.310783 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8306&lon=-78.3108&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11142
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO85FA071
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11142/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO85FA071

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - preflight briefing service - inadequate, atc personnel(fss) (contributing factor)
  - information insufficient, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7393Y-1989-01-05), registration cancelled 1989-01-05, S/N R18200133 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA R182
- Registry model: [Cessna R182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r182) (registry code 2072734) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: R18200133
- Airframe hours: 1661
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19850824042119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850824042119A), Aug 24, 1985: Cessna R182, Browntown, VA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Weather briefer gave better report than actual. VFR pilot departed. Struck obscured mountain. Recent 1HR IFR dual.

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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