# NTSB MIA92GA024: Cessna 172N, N739WS, Okeechobee, FL, November 8, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: November 8, 1991, 00:09 local (05:09 UTC)
- Place: Okeechobee, FL
- Location: 27.2416° N, 80.8293° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Okeechobee, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.2416&lon=-80.8293&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 28, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32998
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA92GA024
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32998/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA92GA024

## Probable cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE DURING A LOW PASS AT NIGHT. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S LIKELY SPATIAL DISORIENTATION DUE TO THE LACK OF SURFACE VISUAL CLUES, THE DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS, AND THE PATCHY FOG CONDITIONS.

## Analysis

THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTING AN AERIAL RECONNAISSANCE LOOKING FOR 2 MISSING FISHERMEN ON LAKE OKEECHOBEE. WHILE DESCENDING TO 125 FT AGL, A BOAT WAS SPOTTED OFF THE LEFT WING. THE AIRPLANE TURNED TOWARDS THE BOAT DESCENDING WITH THE LANDING LIGHT ON. WHILE OVERFLYING THE BOAT, THE LANDING LIGHT WAS TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK ON. THE PILOT LATER STATED THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHAT APPEARED TO BE HAZE, WITH NO VISUAL SIGHTING OF THE WATER. THE AIRPLANE THEN COLLIDED WITH THE WATER AND NOSED OVER. WITNESSES STATED THAT THE NIGHT WAS VERY DARK WITH PATCHY GROUND FOG.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - low pass - performed, pilot in command
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - water

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N739WS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N739WS-1992-03-03), registration cancelled 1992-03-03, S/N 17270870 (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: 17270870
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Public aircraft, Public use
- Operator: Okeechobee Co Sheriff'S Office

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,479 total, 1,395 in this make and model, 4,479 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 300° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observed at: PBI, 35 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 19911108049959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911108049959A), Nov 8, 1991: Cessna 172N, Okeechobee, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Struck lake water during low level search for missing boat. Dark night,haze,fog,and spatial disorientation factors.

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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