- Date
- March 19, 1992, 10:17 local (15:17 UTC)
- Place
- Accokeek, MD
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N65737Cessna 172P
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920319006909A
- Case key
- 11720
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 experienced spatial disorientation which resulted in loss of control of the airplane.
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
On an ILS approach to runway 36, the airplane disappeared off radar at 2,500 ft MSL about 12 nautical miles south of the airport. During the approach, the airplane was west of the localizer and was being vectored to intercept the localizer. A complete left 360 degree turn was made at the request of approach control (arr). The pilot was then cleared to the ILS outer marker. Upon arrival to the outer marker the pilot was told to contact the local controller (lc). Before intercepting the localizer, the airplane started an approximate 9.5 degree left turn away from the localizer. During this turn, arr queried the pilot about the airplane's heading. There was no response. The lc broadcasted to the airplane and requested the pilot to switch back to arr. The pax acknowledged the request. There were no further transmissions by the pilot or pax. The investigation did not disclose any evidence of structural, instrument, or engine failure.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N65737
- Reported as
- Cessna 172P
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17275843
- Airframe hours
- 3,979
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D2J, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Flight International Aviation
- Registered owner
- Flight International Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 7, 1992 · 25 hours before
- Departed
- PHF · Newport News, VA
- Destination
- DCA · Washington, DC
- Flight plan
- IFR
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
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 937 total · 802 as pilot in command · 168 in the last 90 days · 67 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 500 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 37 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- DCA, 12 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.