# NTSB BFO90FA054: Cessna 172RG, N5117U, Onego, WV, June 4, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 4, 1990, 13:05 local (17:05 UTC)
- Place: Onego, WV
- Location: 38.8479° N, 79.4220° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Onego, WV, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8479&lon=-79.4220&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 10, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11549
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO90FA054
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11549/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO90FA054

## Probable cause

VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE (ALTITUDE) FROM MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.  THE TERRAIN AND ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE RELATED FACTORS.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS ON A VFR FLIGHT, WHEN THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 4300 FEET. ABOUT 21 MILES WEST AT ELKIN, WEST VIRGINIA, ELEVATION 1987 FT, THE 1251 EDT WEATHER WAS IN PART; 2000 FT OVERCAST, VISIBILITY 9 MILES, TEMPERATURE 50 DEGREES, DEW POINT 43 DEGREES, WIND FROM 310 DEGREES AT 10 KTS.  WITNESSES IN THE AREA REPORTED THE MOUNTAIN TOPS WERE OBSCURED IN CLOUDS AT THE TIME.  THE INVESTIGATION DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5117U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5117U-1990-12-12), registration cancelled 1990-12-12, S/N 172RG0245 (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: 172RG0245
- Airframe hours: 3120
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-F1A6 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Kentucky Airmotive, Inc.
- Registered owner: Hill Enterprise
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 5, 1990, 52 hours before
- Departed: IAD, WASHINGTON, DC
- Destination: 013, MT STERLING, KY
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 108 total, 18 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 10 knots
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: EKN, 21 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 19900604018489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900604018489A), Jun 4, 1990: Cessna 172RG, Onego, WV, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Flew into upslope of a cloud obscured mountain. Continued flight in mountain area VFR in IMC.

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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