# NTSB BFO90DID01: Cessna 172RG, N6599R, Onancock, VA, August 20, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: August 19, 1990, 22:00 local (Aug 20, 1990, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: Onancock, VA
- Location: 37.7100° N, 75.7437° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Onancock, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7100&lon=-75.7437&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11531
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO90DID01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11531/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO90DID01

## Probable cause

THE INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL BECAUSE THE PILOT EXPERIENCED SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. OTHER FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT ARE VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC, NIGHT CONDITIONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - light condition - dark night
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT WAS ON A NIGHT VFR FLIGHT WHEN THE ACFT CRASHED INTO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY IN A STEEP NOSE-DOWN ATTITUDE. WITNESSES WHO HEARD THE CRASH REPORTED THE WEATHER WAS CLOUDY, ALTHOUGH THE WEATHER 35 MILES NORTH OF THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS REPORTED AS CLEAR. THE INVESTIGATION DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF AIRCRAFT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THE PLT WAS SEATED IN THE RIGHT SEAT. ALTHOUGH HE WAS NOT A CFI, HE LOGGED 44 HOURS OF INSTRUCTIONAL TIME.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6599R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6599R-1990-10-09), registration cancelled 1990-10-09, S/N 172RG0205 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172RG
- Registry model: [Cessna 172RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172rg) (registry code 2072438) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172RG0205
- Airframe hours: 3480
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-FIA6 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Ulf D. Uhlig
- Registered owner: World A/C Sales And Leasing
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 20, 1990, 0 hours before
- Departed: RZZ, ROANOKE RAPIDS, NC

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 293 total, 11 in this make and model, 217 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PHF

## 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 19900819034289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900819034289A), Aug 19, 1990: Cessna 172RG, Melfa, VA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Crashed in 5FT water in bay. Dark night haze and fog.

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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