# NTSB FTW89FA172: Cessna 210D, N3962Y, Covington, LA, September 26, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 25, 1989, 20:30 local (Sep 26, 1989, 01:30 UTC)
- Place: Covington, LA
- Location: 30.4802° N, 90.1118° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Covington, LA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4802&lon=-90.1118&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 22, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22790
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW89FA172
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22790/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89FA172

## Probable cause

THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S DISREGARD OF THE WEATHER INFORMATION PROVIDED DURING TWO BRIEFINGS AND HIS DECISION TO CONTINUE VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC CONDTIONS. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF NIGHT AND INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, descent - normal
  - weather condition - low ceiling
  - weather condition - fog
  - preflight briefing service - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, descent - normal
  - object - tree(s)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PRIVATE PILOT RECEIVED PREFLIGHT AND EN ROUTE WEATHER BRIEFINGS WHICH INDICATED THAT VFR WAS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR THE NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT TO HIS DESTINATION. WEATHER AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT WAS LOW CEILINGS AND FOG WITH ABOUT 1/2 MILE VISIBILITY. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES AT THE 85' LEVEL WHILE IN A DESCENDING, WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE. IMPACT OCCURRED ABOUT 3/4 OF A MILE FROM THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT HAD A TOTAL OF 14 HOURS NIGHT TIME AND 2 HOURS OF HOOD TIME. THE INVESTIGATION DID NOT REVEAL ANY EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRPLANE, POWERPLANT, OR THEIR ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3962Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3962Y-1990-09-25), registration cancelled 1990-09-25, S/N 21058462 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 210D
- Registry model: [Cessna 210D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210d) (registry code 2073414) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21058462
- Airframe hours: 3653
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-A 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Edward A. Harris
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 12, 1988, 295 hours before
- Departed: 3XS7, HOUSTON, TX
- Destination: LA08
- Airport: LA08, Covington-St Tammany

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 192 total, 160 in this make and model, 148 as pilot in command, 73 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Lowest ceiling: 60 ft
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19890925036179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890925036179A), Sep 25, 1989: Cessna 210D, Covington, LA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Struck trees trying to land at airport in near zero IMC 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.

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