- Date
- May 17, 1991, 08:16 local (12:16 UTC)
- Place
- Lebanon, NH
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N4650GCessna 172N
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 13, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910517016339A
- Case key
- 11625
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 failure to maintain adequate terrain clearance. Contributing was mountainous terrain, low clouds, and VFR flight into IMC.
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 airplane collided with a 4700 foot high mountain, about 200 feet below its top during cruise flight. The accident occurred about 18 miles from the departure point. Recorded radar data showed an airplane at altitude varying between 4000 and 5400 feet MSL, during a 10 minute period, with the data ending at 0816 EDT, 16 min after departure. The data shows the flight path roughly corresponding with the direct route of flight between the departure point and destination, which is a northerly course. Another pilot who flew near the accident site about an hour after the accident airplane departed, reported the mountain was obscured by clouds at the time. Examination of the airplane did not disclose evidence of mechanical malfunction. The pilot had been inactive from flying for about 17 years. He resumed flying about 2 months before the accident. During which time he also acquired 3 hours of instrument flight training.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4650G
- Reported as
- Cessna 172N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17273276
- Airframe hours
- 3,926
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-H2AD, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Classic Air Charter Corp.
- Registered owner
- B&M Leasing
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · June 16, 1991 · 1 hours before
- Departed
- 6A8 · Abingdon, VA
- Destination
- BKW · Beckley, WV
- Flight plan
- VFR
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
- 44
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 170 total · 70 in this make and model · 120 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,600 ft broken
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BLF, 111 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.