# NTSB FTW88LA098: Cessna 170, N3853V, Sour Lake, TX, May 9, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 8, 1988, 21:20 local (May 9, 1988, 02:20 UTC)
- Place: Sour Lake, TX
- Coordinates: 30.129295, -94.400497 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1293&lon=-94.4005&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report December 3, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22638
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW88LA098
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22638/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88LA098

## 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 - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, cruise - normal
  - object - tree(s)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT STRUCK TREES AND THE GRND DURING A NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY IN MARGINAL WEATHER. THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PVT PLT STATED THAT HE WAS FLYING IN CRUISE FLT AT 1250' MSL WHEN HE HIT TREES. THE CLOSEST WX STATION RECORDED 1200 OVERCAST WITH 5 MILES VISIBILITY, TEMP 74, DEW PT 70. THE AREA OF THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS SPARSELY POPULATED AND KNOWN TO DEVELOP FOG AND RAGGED CEILINGS DURING SIMILAR CONDITIONS. THE ACDT SITE ELV WAS 15' AND THE TREES WERE 60-100' TALL. PLT RPTD THAT HIS ALTIMETER MALFUNCTIONED, HOWEVER, POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION AND TESTING DID NO REVEAL ANY FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION IN THE LOWER ALTITUDES. ALTIMETER WAS LAST CALIBRATED AND TESTED 17 YRS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE SURVIVORS WERE LOCATED ABOUT 16 HRS AFTER THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3853V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3853V-1989-03-03), registration cancelled 1989-03-03, S/N 18740 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170
- Registry model: [Cessna 170A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170a) (registry code 2072304) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18740
- Airframe hours: 4453
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-145 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Robinson, Richard L.
- Registered owner: Robinson, Richard L
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 11, 1987, 30 hours before
- Departed: DWH, TOMBALL, TX
- Destination: BMT, BEAUMONT, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 122 total, 31 in this make and model, 89 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Night/dark
- Wind: 160° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,200 ft overcast
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BPT, 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 19880508013699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880508013699A), May 8, 1988: Cessna 170, Sour Lake, TX, Destroyed. Indicates aircraft was flown into trees en route while trying to fly through area of low ceiling and fog at night.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.