# NTSB NYC05LA033: Cessna 172N, N737AZ, Mount Gilead, OH, December 30, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 30, 2004, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Mount Gilead, OH - Coordinates: 40.524444, -82.849998 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5244&lon=-82.8500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 3 fatal - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 60781 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC05LA033 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60781/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC05LA033 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane following an inadvertent encounter with instrument meteorological conditions. A factor in the accident was the rapidly deteriorating weather. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering - weather condition - low ceiling - weather condition - drizzle/mist - weather condition - other (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis Prior to the accident flight the weather was conducive for visual flight rules operations, but deteriorated "rapidly" as the pilot taxied to the runway. Once airborne, the airplane entered an overcast cloud layer at approximately 300 feet agl, and then was heard circling back towards the airport. Shortly thereafter, the airplane descended out of the overcast at a high rate of speed, in a nose low attitude, and impacted the ground. The pilot held a private pilot certificate, but no instrument rating. She had flown 27 hours in the accident airplane in the preceding 90 days, but in the previous year, did not log any night or instrument flight experience. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any evidence of preimpact failures or malfunctions. ## Factual narrative On December 30, 2004, about 1000 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172N, N737AZ, was substantially damaged after departure when it impacted terrain during an uncontrolled descent near the Morrow County Airport (4I9), Mount Gilead, Ohio. The certificated private pilot, and the two passengers were fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal local flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to several witnesses, the weather was initially conducive for operating under visual flight rules, but deteriorated "rapidly" as the pilot taxied to the runway. Once airborne, the airplane entered an overcast cloud layer at approximately 300 feet agl, and then was heard circling back towards the airport. The airplane then descended out of the overcast at a high rate of speed, in a nose low attitude, and impacted the ground. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine-land, and did not hold an instrument rating. Her most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued on June 4, 2002. At that time she reported 600 total hours of flight experience. According to the pilot's most recent log book, she had accumulated 27 hours in the preceding 90 days, and 13 hours in the preceding 30 days, all of which were in the accident airplane. The first entry in the log book was dated October 8, 2003, and from that entry until the most recent, dated December 18, 2004, she did not log any night or instrument flight experience, nor did she log any simulated instrument experience. Since receiving her private pilot certificate in June 1989, she logged approximately 1,005 hours as pilot-in-command. According to an NTSB Form 6120.1/2 submitted by the operator, the pilot completed a flight review in March 2003. The airplane had accumulated 23 hours since the most recent annual inspection, which was completed on November 18, 2004. A weather observation taken about 15 minutes after the accident, 11 nm northwest, recorded the weather as winds 170 degrees at 7 knots, visibility 2 miles in mist, ceiling 300 feet overcast, temperature 37 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 36 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 30.29 inches of mercury. According to the FAA inspector, all the major components of the airplane were present at the accident site, and all displayed varying degrees of impact damage. Examination of the wreckage revealed the fuel selector was set to "BOTH," and the carburetor bowl contained fuel. Compression was obtained on all four cylinders, and both magnetos produced spark when their respective input drives were rotated. Flight control continuity was confirmed to all primary flight control surfaces, and the flaps were "UP." In addition, examination of the vacuum system and flight instruments did not reveal evidence of any preimpact failures or malfunctions. An autopsy was performed on the pilot at the Franklin County Corner's Office in Columbus, Ohio, on December 31, 2004. The FAA Toxicology and Accident Research Laboratory in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed a toxicological test on the pilot on February 15, 2005. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N737AZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N737AZ-2012-04-23), registration cancelled 2012-04-23, S/N 17269280, built 1977 (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: 17269280 - Airframe hours: 8208 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2004, 23 hours before - Departed: 4I9, Cardington, OH - Destination: 4I9 - Airport: 4I9, Morrow County, runway 28, 3,497 × 65 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,060 total, 1,005 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 7 knots - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 300 ft overcast - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: MNN, 11 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 20041230033839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041230033839A), Dec 30, 2004: Cessna 172N, Mount Gilead, OH, Destroyed, 3 fatal. (-23) Pilot arrived at airport for sightseeing flight with two (2) passengers as visibility was rapidly dropping due to light mist and fog. Approximately ten… 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.