# NTSB CHI90FA131: Rockwell 114, N4859W, Willoughby Hill, OH, May 21, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 20, 1990, 22:22 local (May 21, 1990, 02:22 UTC)
- Place: Willoughby Hill, OH
- Coordinates: 41.599655, -81.459472 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5997&lon=-81.4595&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 3, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14532
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI90FA131
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14532/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90FA131

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO FOLLOW THE IFR PROCEDURE AND TO IDENTIFY THE DECISION HEIGHT (AND/OR MAKE A TIMELY MISSED APPROACH).  THE ADVERSE WEATHER WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - flight into known adverse weather - performed, pilot in command
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - decision height - not identified, pilot in command (cause)
  - missed approach - not attained, pilot in command
  - object - wire,transmission
  - object - tree(s)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - residential area
- On ground/water collision with object, other
  - object - residence

## Analysis

DRG ARRIVAL, THE PLT MADE 2 VOR APCHS TO LOST NATION ARPT, THEN ELECTED TO DIVERT FOR AN ILS RWY 23 APCH AT THE NEARBY CUYAHOGA COUNTY ARPT.  WHILE BEING VECTORED FOR THE ILS, HE WAS ADZD THE LATEST ARPT WX WAS (IN PART): 100 FT OBSCURED, VIS 1/8 MI WITH FOG.  AT 2218 EDT, THE PLT WAS ADZD HE WAS 5 MI FROM KROOK (OUTER MARKER/FINAL APCH FIX) & WAS CLRD FOR THE APCH.  APCH MINIMA WERE CEILING 200 FT, VIS 1/2 MI.  SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT DEVIATED ABOUT 1100 FT RGT OF THE ILS LOCALIZER COURSE LINE AND HIT A POWER LINE POLE ABOUT 2500 FT SHORT OF THE RWY.  IMPACT OCCURRED ABOUT 12 AGL AS THE ACFT WAS IN A RGT TURN, HDG 290 DEG.  THE ACFT THEN HIT A TREE, CRASHED AT THE SAME ELEV AS THE ARPT, SLID INTO THE BREEZWAY OF A HOUSE/GARAGE & BURNED.  NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT WAS FND.  AFTER THE ACDNT, THE NEXT OBSERVATION SHOWED THE WX HAD DETERIORATED TO: INDEFINITE, ZERO CEILING, SKY OBSCURED, VIS 1/8 MI WITH FOG, WIND FROM 360 DEG AT 8 KTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4859W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4859W-1991-08-07), registration cancelled 1991-08-07, S/N 14189 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROCKWELL 114
- Registry model: [Rockwell International 114](https://openairdocs.org/model/rockwell-international-114) (registry code 7630314) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 14189
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-T4B5D 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Finder'S Diversified, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: AVL, ASHVILLE, NC
- Destination: LNN, WILLOUGHBY, OH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: CGF, Cuyahoga County, runway 23, 5,101 × 100 ft

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 500 total, 100 in this make and model, 400 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 360° at 8 knots
- Temperature: 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CGF, 1 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 19900520016599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900520016599A), May 20, 1990: Gulstm 114, Cleveland, OH, Destroyed, 1 fatal. On ILS approach struck power pole, trees, and a house.

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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