# NTSB FTW83FA126: Cessna 172N, N4862G, Pineville, LA, February 23, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 23, 1983, 02:47 local (08:47 UTC)
- Place: Pineville, LA
- Coordinates: 31.330266, -92.410491 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.3303&lon=-92.4105&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 20704
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW83FA126
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20704/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83FA126

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- In flight collision with object, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - decision height - disregarded, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - missed approach - not performed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - self-induced pressure, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - fatigue, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE OWNER, AN INSTRUCTOR PLT (CFI), WAS IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT & A PRIVATE PLT WITH NO INSTRUMENT RATING WAS IN THE LEFT FRONT SEAT. DURING ARRIVAL, THE AIRCREW HAD INQUIRED ABOUT THE WX AT THE ESLER REGIONAL ARPT, HOWEVER, THE FSS & THE UNICOM HAD CLOSED EARLIER THAT NIGHT & CURRENT WX OBSERVATIONS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. AT THAT TIME, THE ENGLAND AFB WX WAS CLEAR, VISIBILITY 3 MI WITH FOG. THE AIRCREW ELECTED TO MAKE AN APCH TO 'SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.' DURING AN ILS APCH AT NIGHT, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES. INITIAL IMPACT OCCURRED WITH A TREE LIMB APRX 40 FT AGL. AT APRX 0247 CDT, 2 WITNESSES HEARD THE ACFT FLYING LOW OVER THEIR HOMES, JUST BEFORE CRASHING. THEY REPORTED THE ENG SOUNDED NORMAL PRIOR TO IMPACT. ONE WITNESS, A HIGHWAY PATROLMAN LESS THAN 150 YARDS FROM THE CRASH SITE, REPORTED THE ACCIDENT & INITIATED A SEARCH, BUT WAS DELAYED IN FINDING THE ACFT DUE TO DARKNESS & FOG. THE 0300 CDT WX AT ENGLAND AFB WAS 600 FTOVERCAST, PARTIAL OBSCURATION WITH FOG. THE CFI HAD BEEN AWAKE SINCE 0400 THE PREV DAY, CONTD TRIP TO GET BACK TO WORK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4862G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4862G-2012-12-18), registration cancelled 2012-12-18, S/N 17273409, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17273409
- Airframe hours: 873
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Mathis Lynn D.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 4, 1982, 45 hours before
- Departed: PFN, PANAMA CITY, FL
- Destination: ESF, ALEXANDRIA, LA
- Airport: ESF, Esler Regional, runway 26, 6,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 925 total, 155 in this make and model, 758 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 300° at 6 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 600 ft overcast
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: AEX, 18 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 19830223005119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830223005119A), Feb 23, 1983: Cessna 172N, Pineville, LA, Destroyed. Too low on ILS approach. Struck trees 2 miles from runway. CFI not current for instrument flight.

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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