# NTSB IAD96LA120: Cessna 172, N5091G, Stowe, VT, July 19, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 19, 1996, 18:55 local (22:55 UTC) - Place: Stowe, VT - Location: 44.4672° N, 72.6838° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Stowe, VT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4672&lon=-72.6838&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 31, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28087 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD96LA120 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28087/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD96LA120 ## Probable cause failure of the pilot to follow proper IFR procedures and to maintain proper terrain clearance (altitude) during an NDB approach. Factors related to the accident were: the pilot's lack of instrument experience, low ceiling, and mountainous terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - ifr procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis While approaching from the southwest, the pilot was cleared for an NDB approach to the Morrisville Airport. To perform the approach, he was to proceed outbound (050 deg) from the initial approach fix (IAF), make a procedure turn at or above 4,000 ft within 10 nautical miles of the NDB, proceed inbound to the NDB on a course of 230 deg with a minimum altitude of 3,000 ft to the final approach fix (FAF), then fly a course of 223 deg for 2.4 miles to the airport with a minimum descent altitude of 2,000 ft. The pilot stated that he proceeded (outbound from the IAF) on a heading of 050 degrees for about two minutes, completed a procedure turn and took a heading of about 245 to 250 degrees to compensate for the wind conditions. He said he descended to 3000 ft, then 2500 ft after crossing the NDB. He said the needle swing seemed appropriate. However, he was off course. An FAA inspector reported that during the approach, a crosswind blew the airplane off-course to the east, which resulted in an impact with Elmore Mountain (southeast of the FAF). The pilot received his instrument rating on 4/13/96 and had accumulated 4.7 hrs of actual instrument time. The inspector stated that the pilot had made one ADF approach in non-mountainous terrain since the issuance of his instrument rating. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 19, 1996, at about 1830 eastern daylight time, N5091G, a Cessna 172N, owned by APS Leasing Inc., and operated by the private pilot crashed into trees on the side of a mountain while on an NDB approach to Morrisville airport, Stowe, Vermont. The pilot and one passenger were not injured and the aircraft was destroyed. Instrument meteorological conditions existed, and an IFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Islip, New York at 1430, and was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated that he was handed off by Air Traffic Control southwest of the JRV None Directional Beacon (NDB). He said that he proceeded to the NDB at or above 6000 feet Mean See Level (MSL), descended to 4000 feet after crossing the JRV, NDB. He said he proceeded on a heading of 050 degrees for two minutes, completed a procedure turn and took a heading of approximately 245 to 250 degrees to compensate for the wind. He said he descended to 3000 feet then 2500 feet after crossing the NDB. He said the needle swing seemed appropriate. However, he said that he was off course. According to the Federal Aviation Administration Inspector assigned to the case the pilot received his instrument rating on April 13, 1996, and that he had accumulated 4.7 hours of actual instrument time and 163.3 hours total time since May 1991. The Inspector stated that the pilot had executed one ADF approach in Non-mountainous terrain since the issuance of his instrument rating. The pilot stated to the FAA Inspector that he did not know were he was on the approach. WRECKAGE EXAMINATION/DOCUMENTATION The aircraft came to rest inverted with the tail resting against a tree. Both wings were destroyed. The empannage was distorted as a result of the impact. The FAA Inspector who examined the aircraft noted no pre-existing damage or system failures. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5091G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5091G-1997-03-25), registration cancelled 1997-03-25, S/N 17273540 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17273540 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Brad W. Brenner - Registered owner: Aps Leasing Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Departed: ISP, ISLIP, NY - Destination: MVL, VT - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MVL, Morrisville, runway 19, 3,701 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 168 total, 70 in this make and model, 90 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 20 knots, gusting 28 - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MVL ## 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 19960719018899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960719018899A), Jul 19, 1996: Cessna 172N, Morrisville, VT, Destroyed. Pilot reported on hand held radio that he had struck a mountain. 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.