- Date
- January 2, 1992, 18:15 local (Jan 3, 1992, 01:15 UTC)
- Place
- Flagstaff, AZ
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N5485NCessna 182R
- Weather
- Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report June 24, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920102000069A
- Case key
- 27397
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot became spatially disoriented and lost control of the airplane as he turned away from ground lights toward unlighted terrain. The clouds, fog, and dark night condition were factors.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
After lift-off, the airplane was observed to climb to an estimated altitude of 300-400 ft AGL before turning right and descending into trees. The witness stated that the horizon was obscured from his location, and that the lights from the city were obscured by low stratus clouds and fog. Prior to takeoff the pilot had acknowledged receiving the current ATIS information which reported scattered clouds at 500 ft and a fog bank northwest through east, visibility northwest 2 mi, visibility east 3 mi.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5485N
- Reported as
- Cessna 182R
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18267753
- Airframe hours
- 2,701
- Engine
- Continental O-470U-18B, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Pedrick Construction Company
- Registered owner
- Pedrick Construction Company
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · November 8, 1991 · 8 hours before
- Departed
- FLG
- Destination
- DVT · Phoenix, AZ
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- FLG · Pulliam, runway 3, 6,999 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 61
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,497 total · 624 in this make and model · 1,439 as pilot in command · 14 in the last 90 days · 14 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Night/dark
- Wind
- 30° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 12,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 21 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FLG, 1 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.