# NTSB MIA90FA046: Cessna 172N, N733FK, Meridian, MS, December 29, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 29, 1989, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Meridian, MS
- Coordinates: 32.379371, -88.710067 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3794&lon=-88.7101&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32540
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA90FA046
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32540/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA90FA046

## Probable cause

IN FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL BY THE PILOT WHILE FLYING IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE PILOT'S APPREHENSION TOWARD INSTRUMENT FLYING AND THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT EXISTED AT THE TIME.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, descent - normal
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - anxiety/apprehension, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AT 1151, WHILE BEING VECTORED FOR AN APPROACH, THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS ENCOUNTERING 'A LITTLE CHOP AND RAIN' AND REQUESTED A DESCENT. AT 1159, WHILE BEING VECTORED AROUND WEATHER, THE PILOT REPORTED'...I CANNOT HOLD MY ALTITUDE. EXAMINATION OF THE CRASH SITE INDICATED THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED THROUGH TREES IN A NOSE DOWN NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE. THE PILOT'S WIFE STATED THAT THE PILOT DID NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE FLYING ON INSTRUMENTS AND THAT HE WAS AFRAID HE MIGHT ENCOUNTER VERTIGO.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N733FK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N733FK-1995-09-16), registration cancelled 1995-09-16, S/N 17268260 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17268260
- Airframe hours: 3074
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Baber'S Firestone, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 4, 1989, 66 hours before
- Departed: TCL, TUSCALOOSA, AL
- Destination: MEI, MERIDIAN, MS
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: MEI, Key Field, runway 1, 8,004 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 912 total, 852 in this make and model, 822 as pilot in command, 51 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MEI, 9 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 19891229054289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891229054289A), Dec 29, 1989: Cessna STC172, Meridian, MS, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Lost control during vectors for ILS approach. Impacted vertically into trees.

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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