# NTSB NYC03LA076: Cessna 172P, Shenandoah, VA, March 31, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 31, 2003, 13:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Shenandoah, VA - Coordinates: 38.549167, -78.486114 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5492&lon=-78.4861&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO-27 - NTSB case key (mKey): 56723 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC03LA076 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56723/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA076 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent encounter with snow showers. Factors were the snow and the unsuitable landing area. ## 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 - snow (contributing factor) - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command - flight into adverse weather - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - muddy - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The non-instrument rated pilot encountered snow showers in cruise flight at 4,500 feet msl. He attempted to divert to an airport, but could not locate it. The forward visibility continued to decrease, and the pilot performed a precautionary landing to a field. During the landing, the landing gear struck mud, and the airplane came to rest inverted. Prior to the flight, the pilot obtained a standard weather briefing from an FAA automated flight service station. The briefing did not include any forecasted snow showers for the area in which the pilot was flying. ## Factual narrative On March 31, 2003, about 1345 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172P, Canadian registry C-GIKO, was substantially damaged during a precautionary landing near Shenandoah, Virginia. The foreign certificated pilot and passenger were not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight departed Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR), Syracuse, New York; destined for Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO), Greensboro, North Carolina. The non-instrument rated pilot reported that while in cruise flight at 4,500 feet msl, he encountered snow showers. The pilot attempted to divert to Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport (SHD), Shenandoah, Virginia; but could not locate the airport. The forward visibility continued to decrease, and the pilot performed a precautionary landing to a field. During the landing, the landing gear struck mud, and the airplane came to rest inverted. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed damage to the nose gear, propeller, both wings, and the vertical stabilizer. SHD was located about 23 nautical miles southwest of the accident site. The reported weather at SHD at 1340 was: wind from 270 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 21 knots; visibility 10 statute miles, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet; temperature 43 degrees F, dew point 27 degrees F; altimeter 30.06 inches Hg. However, the pilot reported the visibility as "0" near the accident site. Review of communications between the pilot and the Buffalo Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) revealed that the pilot telephoned the facility about 0925. The pilot filed a VFR flight plan from SYR to GSO, and requested a weather briefing. The AFSS specialist provided a standard weather briefing, which included a forecast for showers during early afternoon in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania area. However, the briefing did not include any forecasted snow showers for the Shenandoah, Virginia area. ## Aircraft - Registration: CGIKO (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172P - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17274201 - Airframe hours: 12577 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ottawa Flying Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 28, 2003, 7 hours before - Departed: SYR, Syracuse, NY - Destination: GSO, Greesnboro, NC - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: SHD, Shenandoah Valley Regional ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review September 12, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 103 total, 31 in this make and model, 51 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 10 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: SHD, 23 nm away 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.