# NTSB BFO92LA126: Cessna 172E, N3847S, Tuckahoe, NJ, September 4, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 4, 1992, 19:45 local (23:45 UTC)
- Place: Tuckahoe, NJ
- Location: 39.2892° N, 74.7497° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Tuckahoe, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2892&lon=-74.7497&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 7, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11841
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO92LA126
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11841/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO92LA126

## Probable cause

VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE LIGHT CONDITIONS AT DUSK (OR DARKNESS), AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE.

## 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 - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - light condition - dusk (contributing factor)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, 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 RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING AT 1630 EST FOR THE FLIGHT.  AT THE TIME, HE INDICATED THAT HE WOULD DEPART AT 1900 EST WITH AN EN ROUTE TIME OF 45 MINUTES.  HE INDICATED TO A FAMILY MEMBER THAT HE WOULD ARRIVE AT THE DESTINATION BETWEEN 1900 AND 1930 EST.  THE PILOT DEPARTED AT AN UNDETERMINED TIME.  THE AIRPLANE WAS REPORTED OVERDUE AND SEARCH AUTHORITIES LOCATED THE AIRPLANE TWO DAYS LATER.  THE AIRPLANE CRASHED IN A SWAMP AREA, ABOUT 8 MILES WEST OF THE DESTINATION AIRPORT.  THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND IN A STEEP RIGHT BANK ATTITUDE.  THE WRECKAGE WAS STREWN A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 300 FEET.  THE WEATHER IN THE AREA AT 2000 EST WAS REPORTED AS 200 FEET OVERCAST AND THE VISIBILITY WAS 0.50 MILES IN FOG.  EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THE ACCIDENT WAS PRESUMED TO HAVE OCCURRED AT ABOUT 1945.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3847S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3847S-1998-07-24), registration cancelled 1998-07-24, S/N 17251047 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172E
- Registry model: [Cessna 172E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172e) (registry code 2072412) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17251047
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: David L. Erb
- Registered owner: David L. Erb
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 2, 2000
- Departed: N99, WEST CHESTER, PA
- Destination: 26N, OCEAN CITY, NJ

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 337 total, 207 in this make and model, 91 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dusk
- Wind: 320° at 4 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 200 ft overcast
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ACY, 999 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 19920904035259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920904035259A), Sep 4, 1992: Cessna STC172, Tuckahoe, NJ, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Became missing on short flight. Found in a swamp 2 days later. Had lost control in near zero 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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