# NTSB FTW91FA042: Cessna 172N, N5112K, Thornton, TX, February 18, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 18, 1991, 10:50 local (16:50 UTC)
- Place: Thornton, TX
- Coordinates: 31.670837, -96.479957 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.6708&lon=-96.4800&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23249
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW91FA042
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23249/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW91FA042

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S DECISION TO FLY INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER AND THE WET MICROBURST. A FACTOR WAS HIS DISREGARD FOR THE FORECAST.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - microburst/wet (cause)
  - flight into known adverse weather - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather forecast - disregarded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

WEATHER WAS REPORTED AS BEING SEVERE BY LOCAL RESIDENTS WITH INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS, HAIL AND HIGH WINDS. WITHIN .25 MILES OF IMPACT TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN IN VARIOUS DIRECTIONS. HEAVY FOLIAGE WAS ALSO BLOWN OVER IN INCONSISTENT PATTERNS. WITNESSES REPORTED VISIBILITY DOWN TO A FEW HUNDRED METERS IN THE THUNDERSTORMS. THE FLOOD PLANE IN WHICH IMPACT OCCURRED FLOODED AND SUBMERGED THE WRECKAGE. EN ROUTE AND DESTINATION WEATHER WAS FORECAST TO BE VMC, WITH A LARGE CELL OF THUNDERSTORMS NEAR THE PROPOSED ROUTE OF FLIGHT. AT 1048 THE PILOT REPORTED TO ATC THAT HE WAS AT 4,000 FEET, HOWEVER, RADAR SHOWED HIM AT 3,000. SUBSEQUENT ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THE PILOT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. LAST RADAR CONTACT WAS DESCENDING THROUGH 2,000 FEET.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5112K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5112K-1991-06-21), registration cancelled 1991-06-21, S/N 17273973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17273973
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Golden Eagle Aircraft
- Departed: CLL, COLLEGE STATION, TX
- Destination: 2F7, COMMERCE, TX
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,300 total, 700 in this make and model, 129 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 35 knots, gusting 50
- 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 19910218002529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910218002529A), Feb 18, 1991: Cessna 172N, Thornton, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Operated IFR into area of known severe thunderstorms. Lost control crashed and burned.

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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