# NTSB FTW93FA128: Cessna 172M, N61529, Hobart, OK, April 13, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: April 13, 1993, 02:22 local (07:22 UTC) - Place: Hobart, OK - Coordinates: 35.02008, -99.090301 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0201&lon=-99.0903&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report May 17, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18650 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW93FA128 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18650/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93FA128 ## Probable cause INADVERTENT STALL. FACTORS WERE THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S SPATIAL DISORIENTATION, HIS LACK OF TOTAL INSTRUMENT TIME, THE WEATHER, AND THE DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS. ## 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 - low ceiling (contributing factor) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command(cfi) - Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) - , pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - , pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis A NEWLY CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT AND A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR DEPARTED ON A NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY TRAINING FLIGHT WHICH INCLUDED INTERMEDIATE STOPS AT TWO AIRPORTS. A WEATHER SYSTEM MOVED INTO THE AREA AND THE AIRPLANE INADVERTENTLY ENTERED THE WEATHER. THE PILOT ESTABLISHED CONTACT WITH A MILITARY AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL FACILITY AND WAS ISSUED AN IFR CLEARANCE. A LOSS OF CONTROL WAS EXPERIENCED WHILE VECTORS WERE BEING ISSUED. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT HAD A TOTAL OF TWO HOURS OF ACTUAL INSTRUMENT CONDITIONS. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 13, 1993, at approximately 0222 central daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N61529, was destroyed upon impact with terrain following an in flight loss of control near Hobart, Oklahoma. The certified flight instructor and the private pilot on board were fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area for the night cross country instructional flight. According to the operator, the airplane departed the University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airpark in Norman, Oklahoma, at approximately 1945 on a night cross country flight from Norman with intermediate stops in Amarillo, and Lubbock, Texas, and a return leg to Norman, Oklahoma. An FAA flight plan was not filed; however, a local form was filed stating their intended destination. At 2155, the airplane was topped off with 18.1 gallons of 100LL fuel at the Amarillo International Airport. According to the tower, the airplane departed the Amarillo Airport at 2247, en route to Lubbock, Texas. The Lubbock tower reported that the airplane departed Lubbock at 0042 en route to Norman, Oklahoma. Altus Air Force Base approach control operators reported establishing contact with N61529 at approximately 0215. The pilot stated that he had inadvertently flown into clouds and was requesting assistance. An IFR clearance was issued and he was assigned 5,000 feet. After encountering severe turbulence, the pilot stated that he was experiencing problems holding altitude, and was issued a vector to a heading of 220 degrees in an attempt to regain visual conditions. Radar contact was lost with the airplane 12 miles east of Hobart, Oklahoma. The last altitude readout observed indicated 2,800 feet. There were no witnesses to this accident. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot in command was employed by the operator in the capacity of a ground school instructor. His total actual instrument time was two hours, with 38 hours of simulated instrument time. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION Certified weather reports, area and terminal forecasts, and current AIRMET and NOTAMS are enclosed in this report. COMMUNICATIONS Transcripts of all communications between the pilot and Altus Approach Control, as well as his telephone conversations with Flight Service Station personnel are enclosed in this report. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The airplane was located by a nearby resident at about 0930 in an open pasture approximately 125 yards from a county road. All aircraft components were located within 35 feet of the point of impact. The tail and empennage were found in the near vertical position. The measured heading of the wreckage path was 128 degrees. The flaps were found in the retracted position. Evidence of fuel was found in the fuel tanks and fuel lines, with the fuel selector found in the "both" position. The elevator trim was found in the five degree tab down position. Flight control continuity was established to all flight control surfaces. The engine, propeller, and most of the instrument panel were found buried at the initial point of impact. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION An autopsy was not performed. Toxicological tests were negative. ADDITIONAL DATA The wreckage was released to the owner's representative upon the completion of the field investigation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N61529](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61529-2005-05-06), registration cancelled 2005-05-06, S/N 17264617, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17264617 - Airframe hours: 5672 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: Unknown - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Airmans Flight School - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: AMA, AMARILLO, TX - Destination: OUN, NORMAN, OK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; toxicology performed ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Wind: 60° at 15 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 600 ft overcast - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: HBR, 12 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 19930413009249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930413009249A), Apr 13, 1993: Cessna 172M, Hobart, OK, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Encountered IMC at night. Got IFR clearance. Reported gyro out. Turublence. Had only 2 hrs actual IFR. Lost control 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.