# NTSB FTW84FA077: Cessna 172L, N2899G, Simpson, LA, November 27, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 26, 1983, 19:00 local (Nov 27, 1983, 01:00 UTC)
- Place: Simpson, LA
- Coordinates: 31.250888, -93.009429 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.2509&lon=-93.0094&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21089
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW84FA077
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21089/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW84FA077

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - aircraft handling - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ALTITUDE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AFTER THE PLT ENCOUNTERD LOW CEILING AND RAIN DURING A X-COUNTRY FLT. IN ATTEMPTING TO FLY IFR AND FOLLOW RADAR VECTORS THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT LOST COUNTROL OF HIS ACFT AND SPIRALED INTO THE GROUND. THE NEAREST WEATHER STATION REPORTED 700 FT BROKEN CEILING WITH 5 MILES VISIBILITY IN RAIN. THE PLT DID RECEIVE A WEATHER BRIEFING BUT DID NOT ACTIVATE A FLT PLAN OR CONTACT ANYONE BY RADIO FOR OVER 2 AND A HALF HOURS ENROUTE. WHEN HE MADE CONTACT HE WAS ALREADY LOST AND CIRCLING IN THE RAIN. HE HAD BEEN OBSERVED ON RADAR AS HE CIRCLED NORTH OF FT POLK LA FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. 20 MINUTES AFTER THE FIRST RADIO CONTACT THE PLT REPORTED HE HAD 35 MUNUTES OF FUEL LEFT. 10 MINUTES LATER THE CRASH OCCURRED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2899G (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172L
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17259599
- Airframe hours: 3264
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Joseph L. Mailhos
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 29, 1983, 43 hours before
- Departed: CLL, COLLEGE STATION, TX
- Destination: LA31, OAKDALE, LA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 184 total, 99 in this make and model, 139 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 700 ft broken
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: POE

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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