# NTSB CHI84FA280: Cessna 172M, N9225H, Walbridge, OH, July 5, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 5, 1984, 16:32 local (20:32 UTC)
- Place: Walbridge, OH
- Coordinates: 41.580326, -83.479423 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5803&lon=-83.4794&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12408
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI84FA280
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12408/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI84FA280

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - in-flight weather advisories - not obtained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms) (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - initiated, pilot in command
  - precautionary landing - attempted, pilot in command
  - go-around - performed, pilot in command
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

DURING FLT, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED HEAVY RAIN & THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO LAND AT A NEARBY ARPT. HOWEVER, DUE TO ANOTHER ACFT ON THE RWY, HE MADE A GO-AROUND. THE SURVIVING PASSENGER (A BOY) REPORTED THAT THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE, BLACK CLOUDS & RAIN. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED, NOSE DOWN, IN AN OPEN FIELD & FLIPPED OVER SEVERAL TIMES. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT A SIGMET HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR RAIN SHOWERS MOVING THRU THE AREA. A WITNESS NEAR THE CRASH SITE STATED THAT THE WIND & RAIN WERE SO HEAVY THAT HE HAD PULLED OFF THE INTERSTATE UNTIL IT PASSED. HE DID NOT SEE THE ACCIDENT, BUT THE SURVIVING PASSENGER WALKED TO THE WITNESS' POSITION. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE & ENG REVEALED NO SIGN OF A PREIMPACT PART FAILURE. A TEST OF THE PLT'S BLOOD SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.126%.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9225H (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17266025
- Airframe hours: 2700
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Airborne Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 19, 1984, 73 hours before
- Departed: 3D8, BOLLING GREEN, OH
- Destination: TDZ
- Airport: TDZ, Metcalf, runway 4, 3,665 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 300 total, 25 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TOL, 10 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 19840705029929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840705029929A), Jul 5, 1984: Cessna 172M, Walbridge, OH, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Stalled and crashed nose first while trying to land in heavy rain. Pilot tested positive for alcohol.

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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