# NTSB MIA84FA122: Cessna 402C, N620AC, Mineral Springs, FL, March 27, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 26, 1984, 21:23 local (Mar 27, 1984, 02:23 UTC)
- Place: Mineral Springs, FL
- Location: 30.8327° N, 87.2958° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Mineral Springs, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.8327&lon=-87.2958&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30982
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA84FA122
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30982/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA84FA122

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, maneuvering
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES AND THE GROUND DURING FLT IN ADVERSE WEATHER. THERE IS NO RECORD OF THE PLT RECEIVING A PRE-FLT BRIEFING AND NO FLT PLAN WAS FILED. WITNESSES HEARD AN ACFT FLYING LOW FOLLOWED BY A LOUD THUD. ABOUT 16 MI NORTH AT SARASOTA, FL, THE 2128 EST WX WAS: 200 FT PARTIAL OBSCURATION, VIBIBILITY 3 MI WITH FOG. PERSONS IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT STATED THAT THE AREA HAD HEAVY, PATCHY GROUND FOG.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N620AC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N620AC-1985-01-15), registration cancelled 1985-01-15, S/N 402C-0455 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 402C
- Registry model: [Cessna 402C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-402c) (registry code 207590R) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 402C0455
- Airframe hours: 7454
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-VB 325 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Fort Myers 21 Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 12, 1984, 404 hours before
- Departed: FMY, FT. MYERS, FL
- Destination: SRQ, SARASOTA, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SRQ, 16 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 19840326059739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840326059739A), Mar 26, 1984: Cessna 402C, Warm Mineral Sp, FL, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Flew into trees in a dense fog at dark night. No weather brief record. VFR rated pilot. Tried to make it VFR.

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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