# NTSB CHI91DEX03: Cessna 320F, N6158Q, Washington, IN, June 8, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: June 7, 1991, 22:15 local (Jun 8, 1991, 03:15 UTC)
- Place: Washington, IN
- Coordinates: 38.650291, -87.170394 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6503&lon=-87.1704&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 5, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14868
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI91DEX03
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14868/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI91DEX03

## Probable cause

EXCEEDING THE AIRCRAFT'S PROPER DESCENT RATE BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE INOPERATIVE RUNWAY EDGE LIGHTS, PROPER ALIGNMENT NOT ATTAINED, IMPROPERLY PLANNED APPROACH, AND INADEQUATE FACILITY MAINTENANCE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing
  - light condition - night
  - proper alignment - not attained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - facility,inadequate external lighting, airport personnel (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway edge lights - inoperative (contributing factor)
  - proper descent rate - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - planned approach - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT MADE A NIGHT VISUAL APPROACH TO AN AIRPORT WHERE THE RUNWAY LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE.  THE LOCAL PROCEDURE FOR MAKING NIGHT APPROACHES TO THE AIRPORT WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE INOPERATIVE IS TO LINE UP THE AIRPORT ROTATING BEACON WITH THE MARKER LIGHT ON A GRAIN BIN ONE HALF MILE FROM THE AIRPORT, START A DESCENT, AND WAIT FOR THE AIRCRAFT LANDING LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE THE RUNWAY.  HE WAS HIGH ON THE FIRST APPROACH AND EXECUTED A GO AROUND.  ON THE SECOND APPROACH HE WAS HIGH AND TO THE LEFT, BUT HAD ESTABLISHED A HIGH RATE OF DESCENT, AND FAILED TO CORRECT FOR THIS CONDITION PRIOR TO GROUND IMPACT 20 FEET LEFT OF THE RUNWAY AT APPROXIMATELY MID FIELD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6158Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6158Q-1992-07-06), registration cancelled 1992-07-06, S/N 320F0008 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 320F
- Registry model: [Cessna 320F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-320f) (registry code 2074516) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 320F-008
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSI0-520B 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Dr. John C. Roberts
- Registered owner: Dr. John C. Roberts
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 2, 2000, 11 hours before
- Departed: OWB, OWENSBORO, KY
- Airport: DCY, Deviess County, runway 18, 4,800 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,500 total, 500 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: EVV, 43 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 19910607022349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910607022349A), Jun 7, 1991: Cessna 320F, Washington, IN, Substantial damage. Flew into ground adjacent to unlighted runway. Impact bent both engine mounts and both wings.

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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