# NTSB CHI92LA283: Cessna 182B, N90BF, Baldwin, WI, September 21, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 20, 1992, 20:30 local (Sep 21, 1992, 01:30 UTC)
- Place: Baldwin, WI
- Coordinates: 44.960407, -92.370208 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9604&lon=-92.3702&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15551
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI92LA283
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15551/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI92LA283

## Probable cause

SPATIAL DISORIENTATION AS THE PILOT ATTEMPTED VISUAL FLIGHT PROCEDURES IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS.

## 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 - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - inaccurate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - vfr procedures - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED INSTRUMENT CONDITIONS (IMC) DURING CRUISE FLIGHT AT NIGHT.  THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES AND TERRAIN AS THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO RETURN TO VISUAL FLIGHT CONDITIONS.  CRUISE ALTITUDE WAS 2200 FEET.  THE NEAREST WEATHER OBSERVATION FACILITY WAS APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES WEST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE AND 705 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL (MSL).  45 MINUTES BEFORE THE ACCIDENT THEY REPORTED A 1200 FOOT CEILING.  VISIBILITY WAS 7 MILES.  THE ELEVATION IN THE ACCIDENT AREA VARIES BETWEEN 1100 AND 1300 FEET MSL.  FORECASTS OBTAINED BY THE PILOT PRIOR TO HIS DEPARTURE CALLED FOR MARGINAL VISUAL FLIGHT CONDITIONS DUE TO CEILINGS.  THE PILOT STATED HE WAS PARALLELING A HIGHWAY AND USING THE LIGHTS FROM VEHICLES TO JUDGE VISIBILITY.  THE LIGHTS BECAME OBSCURED BY CLOUDS AND THE PILOT STARTED A 180 DEGREE TURN.  DURING THE TURN THE VISIBILITY WENT TO ZERO.  HE TRIED TO REGAIN OUTSIDE VISUAL REFERENCE. WHEN HE LOOKED AT THE INSTRUMENTS THE AIRPLANE WAS IN A LEFT WING LOW DIVE.  HE REDUCED POWER, LEVELED, AND PULLED UP THE NOSE.  AS THE AIRPLANE LEVELED THEY BROKE OUT OF THE CLOUDS.  THE PILOT SAW THE TREE LINE JUST BEFORE COLLISION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N90BF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N90BF-1993-04-08), registration cancelled 1993-04-08, S/N 52147 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182B
- Registry model: [Cessna 182B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182b) (registry code 2072706) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 52147
- Airframe hours: 3650
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-L 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Allan E. Johnson
- Registered owner: Allan E. Johnson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 14, 1992, 16 hours before
- Departed: Y78, MILWAUKEE, WI
- Destination: 21D, LAKE ELMO, MN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 526 total, 388 in this make and model, 470 as pilot in command, 66 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 160° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,200 ft overcast
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: STP, 20 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 19920920037589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920920037589A), Sep 20, 1992: Cessna 182B, Baldwin, WI, Destroyed. Flew into fog bank. Struck trees trying to make 180 to reverse course. MVFR forecast. Temp dewpoint 4 degree spread

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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