NYC05FA001

Prior to departing on a round-trip flight, the non-instrument rated pilot telephoned a flight service station and received a standard weather briefing. The briefing included information about marginal VFR conditions for the proposed return trip; including increased cloud cover and scattered showers. VFR flight was not recommended for the return trip. After completing the first leg of the trip, the pilot again telephoned the flight service station. The second briefing included information about a slow moving cool front with poorer weather conditions north and west of the planned route, with the possibility of a shower or two along the route. At the time, one of the airports near the route was reporting marginal VFR conditions. The return flight was conducted at night, and proceeded uneventfully for approximately two-thirds of the planned flight. The pilot was receiving flight following, and asked the controller how high the clouds were, so that he could get out of them. The airplane then descended rapidly in a left turn and struck trees.

History of flight

On October 10, 2004, at 0035 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N2771J, was substantially damaged during a collision with trees, following a loss of control in cruise flight near Germantown, New York. The certificated private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP), Islip, New York; destined for Fulton County Airport (NY0), Johnstown, New York. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

During the day prior to the accident, the pilot and passenger flew uneventfully from NY0 to ISP. The airplane was fueled before departing NY0, and again after arriving at ISP. The pilot and passenger attended a meeting, and then departed ISP about 2337, for a return trip to NY0.

According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) communication and radar data, the pilot made radio contact with the Albany, New York Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON), about 0020, and requested flight following. The air traffic controller acknowledged the transmissions, verified radar contact about 0023, and provided a current altimeter setting. The pilot then acknowledged the altimeter setting and verified his altitude. At the time, the airplane was approximately 3,100 feet msl, and 50 miles southeast of Albany, New York.

About 0034, the pilot contacted the Albany TRACON controller and stated, "could you tell me how high these clouds are [unintelligible] get out of them." No further transmissions were received from the accident airplane, and radar contact was lost. Prior to radar contact being lost, a radar target indicated the airplane was at an altitude of 1,700 feet, about 1/3-mile northwest of the accident site. Prior to that, the airplane made a left turn at an altitude of approximately 3,000 feet.

Review of data from the pilot's handheld global positioning system (GPS) receiver revealed the airplane proceeded on a northwesterly track. Prior to the end of the data, the airplane traveled in a 360-degree left turn. The last data point recorded a position of approximately 1/2-mile northeast of the accident site, at an altitude of 2,429 feet.

Three witnesses reported that about 0030, an airplane descended through a cloud layer with an increase in engine noise. The noise was continuous, with no sputtering. Two of the witnesses reported that the airplane was initially on a northwesterly heading, and then made a turn toward a southeasterly direction, before descending rapidly into terrain. The third witness reported that the airplane was heading southeast, and "took a sharp fall - nose-down."

Personnel information

The pilot held a private pilot certificate, with a rating for airplane single engine land. The pilot was not instrument rated.

The pilot's most recent FAA third class medical certificate was issued on January 28, 2004.

According to his logbook, the pilot had accumulated approximately 1,231 hours of total flight experience. However, the logbook did not provide a current record of total night experience, total recent experience, or total simulated instrument experience.

Aircraft information

The airplane's most recent annual inspection was performed on July 4, 2004. At that time the airplane had accumulated 4,194 hours of operation.

Meteorological information

Review of recordings from the Burlington, Vermont flight service station (FSS) revealed that pilot telephoned the FSS about 1200 on October 9, 2004. The pilot advised that he was planning a visual flight rules (VFR) flight from NY0 to ISP, departing within the hour, and returning that evening about 2100.

The FSS specialist provided a standard weather briefing. The specialist stated several times that marginal VFR conditions were forecast for the return flight, with thickening cloud cover and scattered showers, and he would not recommend VFR flight in those conditions at night. The specialist further stated that if the pilot waited until the following morning, the weather was forecast to improve.

The pilot again telephoned the FSS about 2100, and advised he was planning a VFR flight from ISP to NY0, departing about 2300.

The FSS specialist stated that there was only one precaution listed for the route; which was for turbulence. However, he did advise of a slow moving cool front in central New York, with most of the weather north of the planned route, but a possibility of a shower or two along the route. The specialist further stated that the current temperature - dew point spread at Schenectady, New York, was 18 degrees C, and 16 degrees C, respectively; and remarked that it was "getting a little close."

The FSS specialist stated that current conditions along the route included: Bridgeport, Connecticut reporting few clouds at 1,200 feet and visibility 10 miles; White Plains, New York reporting marginal VFR conditions with scattered clouds at 1,200 feet, a broken ceiling at 4,000 feet, a broken ceiling at 10,000 feet, and visibility 3 miles in mist; Poughkeepsie, New York reporting sky clear with visibility 9 miles; and Newburgh, New York reporting scattered clouds at 8,000 feet with visibility 7 miles.

The weather briefing contained a forecast for Albany, New York, valid after 2300. The forecast included visibility greater than 6 miles and an overcast ceiling at 6,000 feet.

Columbia County Airport (1B1), Hudson, New York, was located about 10 miles northeast of the accident site. The recorded weather at 1B1, at 0021, was: wind from 350 degrees at 7 knots; visibility 10 miles; scattered clouds at 2,100 feet, ceiling broken at 2,600 feet, ceiling overcast at 3,400 feet; temperature 64 degrees F; dew point 55 degrees F; altimeter 30.05 inches Hg.

Wreckage and impact information

The wreckage was located in a field about 0700, and examined at the accident site on October 10 and 11, 2004. All major components of the airplane were accounted for at the scene. A debris path was observed, which originated from a row of trees. The debris path extended approximately 330 feet, on a heading of 070 degrees, to the main wreckage. Discolored vegetation was noted along the debris path. A large impact crater was observed about 20 feet along the debris path. The left wingtip was located to the left of the crater. The propeller was located about 75 feet along the debris path, and the right wing was located about 110 feet along the debris path. The left main gear and engine cowling were located about 180 feet along the debris path. The carburetor and cockpit panel were located about 275 feet along the debris path. The magnetos and emergency locator transmitter were found approximately 50 feet beyond the main wreckage.

The right wing was resting inverted in bushes, and a portion of the right aileron was found in the vicinity of the wing. The right wing sustained impact damage to the leading edge, and the damage was greater near the wing root. Flight control continuity was confirmed from the right aileron and flap to the wing root. The right wing fuel tank was compromised.

The left wing was resting inverted on the main wreckage, and remained attached by control cables. Flight control continuity was confirmed from the left flap and aileron to the wing root. The flap was found in the retracted position. The leading edge of the left wing sustained greater impact damage than that of the right wing. The left wing fuel tank was compromised.

The main wreckage was oriented about a 030-degree heading, and the cockpit area was crushed and folded underneath the empennage. The nose wheel and right landing gear were found with the main wreckage. Flight control continuity was confirmed from the elevator and rudder to the forward cabin area. A measurement of the elevator trim jackscrew corresponded to an approximate neutral