# NTSB MIA96LA044: Cessna 172N, N75938, Bryceville, FL, December 17, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 17, 1995, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Bryceville, FL
- Coordinates: 30.380046, -81.930213 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3800&lon=-81.9302&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report May 9, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37962
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA96LA044
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37962/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA96LA044

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper planning/decision.  Factors relating to the accident were: the pilot's inaccurate evaluation of the weather conditions, the pilot becoming lost/disoriented, and the lack of braking action on wet grass during the precautionary landing.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - inaccurate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - grass
  - terrain condition - wet (contributing factor)
  - object - fence

## Analysis

The student pilot was flying on a cross-country flight, when he encountered deteriorating weather and became disoriented. He elected to make a precautionary landing in a field. He stated that during the landing roll, he was unable to get satisfactory braking action on wet grass. Subsequently, the airplane hit a barbed wire fence and nosed over.

## Factual narrative

On December 17, 1995, about 1500 eastern standard time, N75938, a Cessna 172N, operated by Americus Georgia Flying Club landed in a field in Bryceville, Florida, while flying a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the flight.  The airplane was substantially damaged and the student pilot received minor injuries.  The flight had originated earlier that day.

The student pilot was flying from Brunswick, Georgia to Waycross, Georgia on a solo cross-country flight when he encountered deteriorating weather conditions.  He became disoriented while trying to maintain VFR.  The pilot attempted a precautionary landing in a field.  During the landing roll the airplane hit a barbed wire fence and nosed over.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N75938](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N75938), registered now, S/N 17268055, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17268055
- Engines: Lycoming O-326-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Americus Georgia Flying Club
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 17, 1995, 20 hours before
- Departed: SSI, BRUNSWICK, GA
- Destination: AYS, WAYCROSS, GA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 19; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 40 total, 40 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: GNV, 62 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 19951217040789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951217040789A), Dec 17, 1995: Cessna 172N, Bryceville, FL, Substantial damage. Encountered weather en route solo. Became lost. Elected land in a field. Struck fence. Nosed over.

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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