# NTSB NYC85FA014: Cessna 150M, N45397, Providence, RI, October 26, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 26, 1984, 18:43 local (22:43 UTC)
- Place: Providence, RI
- Location: 41.8231° N, 71.4188° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Providence, RI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8231&lon=-71.4188&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35785
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC85FA014
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35785/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC85FA014

## 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 - fog (contributing factor)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent
  - terrain condition - water,rough

## Analysis

ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE WATERS OF NARRAGANSETT BAY AT A LOCATION APRX 1 MILE FROM BOYS TOWN ARPT (DESTINATION OF RECORD),IN WATER APRX 8 FT DEEP. THE WX WAS IMC AT DEPARTURE (1845 EDT) AND THE ATP INSTRUMENT RATED PLT HAD REQUESTED AND BEEN GRANTED A SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE OUT THE CONTROL ZONE TO THE SOUTHEAST. THE CONTROLLER LATER STATED THAT HE AND ANOTHER FAA EMPLOYEE ON DUTY HAD DISCUSSED THE REQUEST FOR SPECIAL CLEARANCE AND HAD EXPRESSED SKEPTICISM AT A SVFR OPERATION IN THE EXISTING WX CONDITIONS. ATTEMPTS BY THE FAA CONTROLLERS TO OBTAIN MORE CURRENT WX AT QUONSET STATE & NEWPORT STATE ARPTS WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. QUONSET TWR DID ACKNOWLEDGE THAT A 1 AND 1/2 MILE VISIBILITY EXISTED AT THE ARPT AT TIME OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. THIS INFO WAS PASSED TO THE PLT OF N45397 PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. THE ACFT WAS TRACKED ON BRITE RADAR OUT THE CONTROL ZONE. THE ACFT WAS CALLED IN AS OVERDUE AT 2354 GMT (APRX 1 HR AFTER DEPARTURE). WHEN THE ACFT WAS LOCATED THE NEXT MORNING, DIVERS FROM THE CG FOUND A FEMALE BODY IN THE ACFT. THE DROWNED PLT WAS FOUND ON A BEACH 11/11

## Aircraft

- Registration: N45397 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150M
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15076904
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A4B 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Air Ambulance And Charter
- Registered owner: Cess Eagle Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 12, 1984, 0 hours before
- Departed: PVD, PROVIDENCE, RI
- Destination: PRUDENCE ISLAND, RI

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,950 total, 4,478 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft overcast
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PVD, 6 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 19841026058669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841026058669A), Oct 26, 1984: Cessna 150M, Providence, RI, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Collided with water while maneuvering in IFR conditions one mile from destination airport.

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.

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