# NTSB MIA86FA053: Cessna 172M, N21760, St. Marys, GA, January 2, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 1, 1986, 19:21 local (Jan 2, 1986, 00:21 UTC)
- Place: St. Marys, GA
- Coordinates: 30.949666, -81.719718 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.9497&lon=-81.7197&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31476
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA86FA053
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31476/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA86FA053

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

DRG A NGT X-COUNTRY FLT, THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT CONTACTED APCH CONTROL & RPRTD HE WAS 'SORT OF LOST IN THE FOG.'  HE OBTAINED WX INFO & ELECTED TO DIVERT TO WAYCROSS, GA. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES ON UNEVEN TERRAIN & CRASHED. WITNESSES STATED THAT THEY HEARD THE ACFT CIRCLE TWICE & CRASH. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT OR ENG WAS FOUND. ABOUT 28 MI SOUTH AT JACKSONVILLE, FL, THE 1949 EST WX WAS IN PART: 600' BROKEN, 1500' OVERCAST, VIS 7 MI, WIND FROM 060 DEG AT 12 KTS. WITNESSES RPRTD PATCHY FOG IN THE AREA OF THE ACDNT. TOXICOLOGY CHECKS OF TISSUE FROM THE PLT REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF BENZODIAZEPINE (VALIUM) & PROPOXYPHENE (DARVON). INTERVIEWS WITH THE PLT'S WIFE & AN AVIATION MEDICAL EXAMINER REVEALED THE PLT HAD USED THESE MEDICATIONS FOR ARTHRITIS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N21760 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17264008
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Lewis R. Davis
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, September 1, 1985
- Departed: X47, BUNNELL, FL
- Destination: AYS, WAYCROSS, GA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 100 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 60° at 12 knots
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: JAX, 28 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 19860101000019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860101000019A), Jan 1, 1986: Cessna 172M, St Marys, GA, Destroyed. Uncontrolled descent to impact during night flight in fog. Tissue test positive for propoxyphene and benzodiazapine

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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