# NTSB FTW84LA168: Cessna 172P, N54647, Houston, TX, March 14, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 14, 1984, 00:23 local (06:23 UTC)
- Place: Houston, TX
- Location: 29.9844° N, 95.3414° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at GEORGE BUSH INTCNTL/HOUSTON (IAH), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9844&lon=-95.3414&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21284
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW84LA168
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21284/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW84LA168

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, descent
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
  - , pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
  - radar assistance to vfr aircraft - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, missed approach (ifr)
  - ifr procedure - not understood, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - missed approach - delayed, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT DEPARTED DALLAS, TX, AND WAS ON A VFR FLIGHT PLAN TO HOUSTON GULF PORT ARPT. UNABLE TO LANDTHERE DUE TO WX, THE PLT REQUESTED ATC VECTORS TO HOUSTON INTERCONTINENTAL (IAH). IAH ATC GAVE THE PLT VECTORS FOR AN ILS APCH TO RWY 08. THE PLT FLEW THE ILS APCH WITHOUT THE APCH CHARTS & CRASHED PAST THE END OF THE RWY DURING THE ATTEMPTED MISSED APCH.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N54647](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54647-1985-03-01), registration cancelled 1985-03-01, S/N 17275023 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17275023
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-02J 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Harvey M. Mainis Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: RBD, DALLAS, TX
- Destination: SPX, HOUSTON, TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: IAH, Houston International, runway 8, 9,400 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 123 total, 13 in this make and model, 79 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 110° at 4 knots
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: IAH

## 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 19840314005649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840314005649A), Mar 14, 1984: Cessna 172P, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. Struck a dirt embankment off side of runway end trying for a missed approach. Not IFR rated wx below minimums.

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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