- Date
- March 16, 1990, 19:30 local (Mar 17, 1990, 00:30 UTC)
- Place
- Bedford, VA
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N76026Cessna 172N
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report October 2, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900316063409A
- Case key
- 11543
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 decision to fly into known adverse weather conditions and his failure to maintain clearance above the terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's self induced pressure, low ceilings, mountainous terrain and rain.
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
The plt received a wx briefing for the flt during which he was informed that VFR was not recommended. The plt and pax departed paintsville, KY, about 1730 EST. The acft impacted the terrain in a hollow of a mountain ridge. There were no witnesses to the accident. Wx observation listed above was taken 20 miles east of the accident site. Another plt stated the wx was marginal with rain storms near the mountains where the accident occurred. The plt had already taken four days off work and was scheduled to return to work on the day following the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N76026
- Reported as
- Cessna 172N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17268094
- Airframe hours
- 3,529
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-H2AD, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Virginia Aviation
- Registered owner
- Franklin F. Sites
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 5, 1989 · 69 hours before
- Departed
- 3I6 · Paintsville, KY
- Destination
- LYH · Lynchburg, VA
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
- 22
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 132 total · 29 in this make and model · 57 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 200° at 16 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility
- 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,200 ft broken
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- LYN, 20 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.