- Date
- December 31, 1994, 19:00 local (Jan 1, 1995, 00:00 UTC)
- Place
- New Smyrna Bch., FL
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N24457Cessna 152
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report October 13, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19941231000069A
- Case key
- 37718
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
Intentional flight into known instrument meteorological conditions by a noninstrument-rated pilot, and the pilot's subsequent spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident was the pilots' overconfidence in his personal ability.
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
The noninstrument rated pilot took off in instrument meteorological conditions with 1 mile visibility in fog. Shortly after takeoff he lost sight of the ground, entered a dive, and the airplane collided with the ground.
Factual narrative
On December 31, 1994, about 1900 eastern standard time, N24457, a Cessna 152, registered to Vintage Props & Jets Inc. crashed in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot received minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time.
The noninstrument-rated pilot stated he attempted a flight in foggy weather. Shortly after takeoff he further stated he became disoriented when he lost sight of the ground, initiated a dive, and the airplane collided with the ground.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N24457
- Reported as
- Cessna 152
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15280266
- Airframe hours
- 7,521
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-L2C, 110 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Vintage Props & Jets Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · December 9, 1994 · 17 hours before
- Departed
- 34J · New Smyrna Bch, FL
- Destination
- 34J · FL
- Airport
- 34J · New Smyrna Bch.
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
- 48
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 123 total · 9 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 100 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 57 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- DAB, 10 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.
Other investigations on N24457 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.