NYC83FA160

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172N · Jaffrey, NH · June 28, 1983

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report
Date
June 28, 1983, 10:01 local (14:01 UTC)
Place
Jaffrey, NH
Injuries
1 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N738SFCessna 172N
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19830628037109A
Case key
35057

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

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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 encounter with weatherCruise - normal
Flight into known adverse weather - initiatedPilot in commandFactor
Weather condition - cloudsFactor
Weather condition - low ceilingFactor
Weather condition - obscurationFactor
Vfr flight into imc - continuedPilot in commandCause
In flight collision with terrain/waterManeuvering - turn to reverse direction
Proper altitude - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Terrain condition - high terrainFactor
Terrain condition - mountainous/hillyFactor
Terrain condition - risingFactor

Analysis

At 0555 EDT, the non-instrument rated plt obtained a wx briefing for a flt from limington, me to pawling, NY. At that time, he stated he was unsure when he would depart, the decision depended on the wx. The briefer advised that at that time, VFR flt was not recommended & that the plt should obtain another briefing before departing, at aprx O900 EDT, he took off, an en route refueling stop was made at concord, NH. His route of flt was to the southwest along victor 93. When the acft was determined to be overdue, a search was initiated. Later, it was found where it crashed near the top of mt monadnock at an elevation of aprx 2900 ft on a heading of 070. An exam of the wreckage revealed no evidence of a preimpact, mechanical malfunction or failure. A witness in the vicinity saw an acft matching its description flying below a broken layer at about 2000 ft MSL. He stated he could see an overcast above the broken layer & that mt monadnock was obscured by clouds most of the day.

Aircraft

Registration
N738SF
Reported as
Cessna 172N
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17270195
Airframe hours
1,425
Engine
Lycoming O-320-H2AD, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Fire
On-Ground
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Limington-Harmon Air
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · April 29, 1983 · 50 hours before
Departed
CON · Concord, NH
Destination
Pawling, NY

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
46
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Toxicology
Performed
Flight hours
130 total · 50 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
340° at 5 knots
Lowest ceiling
3,000 ft broken
Temperature
61 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
EEN, 7 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.