# NTSB CHI92FA035: Cessna 172RG, N9589B, Litchfield, MN, November 27, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 26, 1991, 18:30 local (Nov 27, 1991, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Litchfield, MN
- Coordinates: 45.110191, -94.519813 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1102&lon=-94.5198&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 23, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15274
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI92FA035
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15274/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI92FA035

## Probable cause

PILOT FACTOR IN THAT HE HAD SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT ARE; VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC, DISREGARDING HAZARDOUS WEATHER ADVISORIES, PERFORMING FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND OVERCONFIDENCE IN PERSONAL ABILITY BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND.

## 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 - snow
  - hazardous weather advisory - disregarded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, unknown
  - vfr flight into imc - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - water,frozen

## Analysis

PILOT WHO WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED ATTEMPTED VFR CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT IN IMC CONDITIONS.  AIRCRAFT AND THE FOUR PERSONS ON BOARD WERE MISSING FOR THREE DAYS.  AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND CRASHED INTO FROZEN LAKE HALF WAY TO INTENDED DESTINATION.  PILOT GOT TWO WEATHER BRIEFINGS DURING WHICH HE WAS ADVISED OF IMC CONDITIONS ALONG HIS ROUTE OF FLIGHT AND AT INTENDED DESTINATION, AND THAT VFR FLIGHT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9589B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9589B-1994-07-23), registration cancelled 1994-07-23, S/N 172RG0902 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172RG
- Registry model: [Cessna 172RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172rg) (registry code 2072438) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172RG0902
- Airframe hours: 3606
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-F1A6 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Wright Aero, Inc.
- Registered owner: M & S Aircraft Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 4, 1991, 45 hours before
- Departed: STC, ST. CLOUD, MN
- Destination: RWF, REDWOOD FALLS, MN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 269 total, 70 in this make and model, 193 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 170° at 5 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 1,700 ft overcast
- Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: STC, 35 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 19911126053709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911126053709A), Nov 26, 1991: Cessna 172RG, Litchfield, MN, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Flew into area of heavy snow at night. Lost control. Impacted frozen lake. Was advised by fss VFR not recommended.

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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