NYC83FA128

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172RG · Plattsburgh, NY · May 31, 1983

Accident · No injuriesField investigationFinal report
Date
May 31, 1983, 00:40 local (04:40 UTC)
Place
Plattsburgh, NY
Injuries
4 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N6207RCessna 172RG
Weather
Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19830531021349A
Case key
35050

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

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.

In flight collision with objectApproach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
Light condition - dark nightFactor
Weather condition - low ceilingFactor
Weather condition - fogFactor
In-flight planning/decision - improperPilot in commandFactor
Ifr procedure - improperPilot in commandCause
Minimum descent altitude - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Object - tree(s)Factor

Analysis

During an IFR arrival, aprx 1 mi from the outer marker (om), the plt asked for a descent from 3300 ft MSL & was cleared for the localizer, rwy 1 apch. The published min alt at the om was 2100 ft. the plt reported at the om, and 11 seconds later, the controller asked if he wanted to make a 360 deg turn to lose alt. The plt declined, but he made 2 s-turns while descending on the apch. He stated that at 800 ft MSL, he applied cruise power, checked his time & noted he had 30 seconds remaining to get to the missed apch point. Shortly after that, he heard a 'loud bang.' He then made a missed apch, diverted to burlington, VT & landed from an ILS apch. After landing foreign object damage was found on the leadingedges of the wings, prop spinner & left horizontal stabilizer. Tree foliage was also found on the acft. The controller stated the arts target went to a non-beacon status at the apch end of the rwy (at 500 ft MSL). The mda was 720 ft MSL & the min ceiling & visibility were 400 ft & 1 mi. Aprx 4 mi southeast, the 0034 wx was 400 ft obscd, 7/8 mi vis, fog.

Aircraft

Registration
N6207R
Reported as
Cessna 172RG
Category
Airplane
Serial number
172RG0115
Airframe hours
1,510
Engine
Lycoming O-360-F1A6, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Dr. Howard A. Walker
Registered owner
Outer Marker, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · September 1, 1982 · 30 hours before
Departed
PSF · Pittsfield, MA
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
PLB · Clinton County, runway 1, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
50
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
648 total · 255 in this make and model · 532 as pilot in command · 17 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
Wind
Calm
Lowest ceiling
400 ft
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
PBG, 4 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.