# NTSB FTW90FA018: Cessna TR182, N756WH, Crane, TX, October 27, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 27, 1989, 14:38 local (19:38 UTC)
- Place: Crane, TX
- Coordinates: 31.390947, -102.350128 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.3909&lon=-102.3501&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 5, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22999
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90FA018
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22999/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90FA018

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL, DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE.

## 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 - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT WAS ON A VFR X-COUNTRY FLT.  HE RCVD AN INFLT WX BRIEFING & WAS ADZD OF A CONVECTIVE SIGMET (25C) CONCERNING IMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS. THE CONTROLLER ALSO PROVIDED THE CURRENT WX FOR MIDLAND & FARMINGTON, AND SUGGESTED A ROUTING AROUND THE AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS. THE PLT SAID HE DID NOT HAVE A MAP & ASKED FOR THE CALL LETTERS FOR FARMINGTON. WHEN THE ACFT DID NOT ARRIVE, A SEARCH WAS INITIATED. RADAR DATA SHOWED THAT AN ACFT IN THE AREA HAD MADE A SPIRALING DIVE FROM 11,800 FT BEFORE RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. AN EXAM OF THE CRASH SITE REVEALED THE ACFT HAD CRASHED IN A NOSE DOWN, RIGHT WING LOW ATTITUDE. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT WAS FOUND. ACCORDING TO WITNESS INFO, THE SKY CONDITION IN THE ACDNT AREA WAS OBSCURED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N756WH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N756WH-1991-07-25), registration cancelled 1991-07-25, S/N R18201178 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA TR182
- Registry model: [Cessna TR182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-tr182) (registry code 2072735) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: R18201178
- Airframe hours: 1309
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-L3C5D 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: P.C. Transport Inc.
- Registered owner: Phillip M. Christopherson
- Last inspection: Annual, December 6, 1988, 155 hours before
- Departed: ALI, ALICE, TX
- Destination: E41, BIG LAKE, TX
- Airport: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,036 total, 31 in this make and model, 2,036 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- 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 19891027043429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891027043429A), Oct 27, 1989: Cessna TR182, Crane, TX, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Lost control in area of IMC thunderstorms.

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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