# NTSB BFO90LA072: Cessna A152, N4728A, Hyden, KY, August 5, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 5, 1990, 14:37 local (18:37 UTC)
- Place: Hyden, KY
- Coordinates: 37.24998, -83.190658 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2500&lon=-83.1907&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 6, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11611
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO90LA072
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11611/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO90LA072

## Probable cause

THE PILOT INTENTIONALLY CONTINUING VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN SPATIAL DISORIENTATION AND LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE THUNDERSTORMS AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT FLYING PROFICIENCY.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - aircraft control - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT HAD RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING FROM DUATS; HE WAS ASSISTED BY A CFI. FORECASTS WERE FOR A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS, MOUNTAIN OBSCURATIONS, AND IFR CONDITIONS IN KENTUCKY. FOR ABOUT THE LAST 30 MINUTES, EN ROUTE AND NEARING HIS DESTINATION, THE PILOT WAS RECEIVING ATC ASSISTANCE TO AVOID WX PAINTED ON ATC RADAR. AT 1437 THE PILOT RADIOED '...IT'S RAINING ON ME HEAVILY OVER HERE.' THE CONTROLLER ASKED IF THE PILOT COULD MAINTAIN VFR, AND THE PILOT ANSWERED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THERE WERE NO FURTHER TRANSMISSIONS RECEIVED FROM THE PILOT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4728A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4728A-1991-01-28), registration cancelled 1991-01-28, S/N A1520883 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A152
- Registry model: [Cessna A152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a152) (registry code 2071836) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: A1520883
- Airframe hours: 2700
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Bob Jones University
- Last inspection: Annual, May 5, 1990, 109 hours before
- Departed: GMV, GREENVILLE, SC
- Destination: LOZ, LONDON, KY
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 21; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, unknown; flight hours: 72 total, 55 in this make and model, 34 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Day

## 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 19900805042979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900805042979A), Aug 5, 1990: Cessna A152, Hyden, KY, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Thunderstorms en route. During ATC vectors flew into heavy rain. Found two weeks later in heavily wooded area.

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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