# NTSB CHI06LA005: Cessna 172RG, N6085R, Union City, OH, October 9, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 9, 2005, 19:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Union City, OH - Coordinates: 40.31361, -84.777778 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3136&lon=-84.7778&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Cessna Aircraft, FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 62666 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI06LA005 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62666/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06LA005 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to perform a preflight weather evaluation which led to his inadvertent flight into instrument meteorological conditions and his spatial disorientation. The low ceilings and the dark night were contributing factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - weather evaluation - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, cruise - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane was destroyed when it impacted the ground and subsequently burned. The airplane was being operated by a non-instrument rated private pilot who was fatally injured during the accident. Weather reporting stations near the accident site recorded instrument meteorological conditions with low ceilings and reduced visibilities. There was no record of the pilot having received a weather briefing or filing a flight plan for the flight. On-scene examination of the airplane and its systems did not reveal any evidence of a pre-impact failure. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 9, 2005, about 1945 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172RG, N6085R, operated by a non-instrument rated private pilot was destroyed when it impacted terrain near Union City, Ohio. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in instrument meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The pilot who was the sole occupant was fatally injured. The flight originated from Coldwater, Michigan, at an unconfirmed time and was en route to Lexington, Kentucky. PERSONNEL INFORMATION According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. He did not have an instrument rating. His most recent third class medical certificate, issued on March 29, 2004, listed no limitations. The pilot reported having 400 hours of total flight experience as of the date of the medical examination. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The airplane was a 1980 Cessna model 172RG, serial number 172RG0077. The airplane was a single-engine high-wing monoplane of predominately aluminum construction. The wings were strut braced and the airplane had a retractable tri-cycle landing gear. A 180 horsepower Lycoming model O-360-F1A6 engine powered the airplane. Maintenance records indicated that the airplane had accumulated a total of 6,498.5 hours total time in service as of the most recent annual inspection. The records showed that the inspection was performed on June 20, 2005. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION Aviation routine weather reports (METAR) were obtained for nearby airports. Those reports and the location of each station relative to the accident site are as follows: Delaware County Airport-Johnson field (MIE), located 28.6 nautical miles and 261 degrees from the accident site recorded the weather at 1853 as: winds 060 degrees magnetic at 6 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition 2,700 feet broken, 3,200 feet overcast; temperature 14 degrees Celsius; dew point 9 degrees Celsius; altimeter setting 30.00 inches of mercury. At 1953, the weather at MIE was: winds 070 degrees magnetic at 10 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition 2,700 feet overcast; temperature 13 degrees Celsius; dew point 9 degrees Celsius; altimeter setting 30.01 inches of mercury. James M. Cox-Dayton International Airport (DAY), located 35.6 nautical miles and 134 degrees from the accident site recorded the weather at 1937 as: winds 060 degrees magnetic at 6 knots; visibility 2 statute miles; mist; sky condition 600 feet broken, 1,300 feet overcast; temperature 12 degrees Celsius; dew point 11 degrees Celsius; altimeter setting 30.03 inches of mercury. At 1956, the weather at DAY was: winds 060 degrees magnetic at 5 knots; visibility 2 statute miles; mist; sky condition 600 feet overcast; temperature 12 degrees Celsius; dew point 11 degrees Celsius; altimeter setting 30.04 inches of mercury. Anderson Municipal Airport-Darlington Field (AID), located 40.2 nautical miles and 252 degrees from the accident site recorded the weather at 1947 as: winds calm; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition 3,000 feet overcast; temperature 13 degrees Celsius; dew point 10 degrees Celsius; altimeter setting 30.01 inches of mercury. Lima Allen County Airport (AOH), located 42 nautical miles and 55 degrees from the accident site recorded the weather at 1953 as: winds 040 degrees magnetic at 9 knots gusting to 15 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition 1,300 feet overcast; temperature 12 degrees Celsius; dew point 9 degrees Celsius; altimeter setting 30.03 inches of mercury. The automated weather observing system located at the Sidney Municipal Airport (I12), located 29 nautical miles and 099 degrees from the accident site recorded the weather at 1945 as: winds 030 degrees magnetic at 5 knots; visibility 2 statute miles; sky condition 400 feet overcast; temperature 13 degrees Celsius; dew point 12 degrees Celsius; altimeter setting 29.99 inches of mercury. COMMUNICATIONS The accident airplane was in communication with the MIE air traffic control tower prior to the accident. The following is a partial transcription of the tape recording of those communications. All times are approximate. N6085R 19:13:55 muncie tower cessna six zero eight five romeo over MIE 19:14:09 cessna six zero eight nine romeo muncie MIE 19:14:20 aircraft calling muncie tower say again N6085R 19:16:29 muncie tower cessna six zero eight five romeo over MIE 19:16:59 last aircraft calling muncie say again MIE 19:17:34 traffic calling muncie say again N6085R 19:18:36 muncie tower over MIE 19:18:41 calling muncie tower say again N6085R 19:18:45 I'm ah not sure where I am from muncie my D M E is not showing me this is cessna six zero eight five romeo I'd like to see if you can help me ah locate where I am now MIE 19:18:59 cessna six zero eight nine romeo how do you hear me N6085R 19:19:02 ah you're breaking up quite a bit but I think I can understand you MIE 19:19:08 do you have V O R capability N6085R 19:19:10 yes MIE 19:19:11 are you tuned to the muncie V O R one one four four N6085R 19:19:15 I had it on one fourteen point four and it didn't seem to be it still says nav I'm not picking it up MIE 19:19:24 you sound like you might be kind of far away what's your altitude N6085R 19:19:28 it's awfully bad MIE 19:19:30 what's your altitude MIE 19:20:21 six zero eight nine romeo muncie MIE 19:20:33 six zero eight nine romeo muncie MIE 19:20:48 november six zero eight nine romeo muncie N6085R 19:20:55 six zero eight five romeo MIE 19:21:00 six zero eight five romeo squak four zero six two N6085R 19:21:05 four zero six two should I ident MIE 19:21:09 yes ident N6085R 19:21:11 four zero six two MIE 19:21:49 six zero five nine romeo say your altitude N6085R 19:21:52 two thousand six hundred MIE 19:22:31 six zero five nine romeo muncie MIE 19:23:04 november six zero five nine romeo muncie MIE 19:23:21 six zero five nine romeo muncie tower MIE 19:23:34 five nine romeo muncie N6085R 19:24:41 muncie my D M E now is showing thirty seven point two miles and ah counting down so apparently I am in good shape my V O R is ah better MIE 19:24:55 six zero five nine romeo if you want help you can contact fort wayne approach on one two seven point two MIE 19:25:10 five nine romeo do you copy me MIE 19:28:38 november five nine romeo muncie MIE 19:28:43 five nine romeo you can contact dayton approach on one three four point four five for assistance N6085R 19:46:25 muncie tower do you read me MIE 19:46:32 calling muncie say again N6085R 19:46:34 this is eight five romeo ah I'm in trouble here and I see I'm twenty eight point six miles from you (unintelligible) MIE 19:46:45 eight five romeo suggest you contact fort wayne approach on one two seven point two N6085R 19:46:51 you're breaking up pretty bad MIE 19:46:54 contact fort wayne on one two seven point two N6085R 19:46:57 thank you sir one two seven point two No further transmissions were received from the accident airplane. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The FAA and a representative of the aircraft manufacturer conducted an on-scene investigation. A global positioning system receiver was used to determine the accident site coordinates as 40-degrees, 18-minutes, 49-seconds north latitude, 84-degrees, 46-minutes, 40-seconds west longitude at an elevation was 1,085 feet above sea level. The airplane came to rest in a harvested agricult ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6085R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6085R-2013-04-25), registration cancelled 2013-04-25, S/N 172RG0077, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172RG - Registry model: [Cessna 172RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172rg) (registry code 2072438) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172RG0077 - Airframe hours: 6498 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-F1A6 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2005 - Departed: D96, COLDWATER, MI - Destination: Lexington, KY ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 400 total ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night - Wind: 30° at 5 knots - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 400 ft overcast - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: I12, 29 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 20051009026069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051009026069A), Oct 9, 2005: Cessna 172RG, Union City, OH, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-23) On October 9, 2005, at approximately 1950 EST, a Cessna 172RG, N6085R was destroyed when it impacted terrain during a personal flight. The private pilot… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.