# NTSB BFO90FA032: Cessna 172N, N76026, Bedford, VA, March 17, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 16, 1990, 19:30 local (Mar 17, 1990, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Bedford, VA
- Coordinates: 37.320629, -79.519515 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3206&lon=-79.5195&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 2, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11543
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO90FA032
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11543/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO90FA032

## 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

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - self-induced pressure, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N76026-1990-05-25), registration cancelled 1990-05-25, S/N 17268094 (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: 17268094
- Airframe hours: 3529
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 22; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19900316063409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900316063409A), Mar 16, 1990: Cessna 172N, Bedford, VA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Flew into side of cloud obscured ridge at night VFR. Was advised by afs and airport operator not to go due weather.

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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