# NTSB NYC87LA261: Cessna 172P, N99151, Fitchburg, MA, September 20, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 19, 1987, 21:17 local (Sep 20, 1987, 01:17 UTC)
- Place: Fitchburg, MA
- Location: 42.9033° N, 71.8870° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from FITCHBURG MUNI (FIT), within about 8 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9033&lon=-71.8870&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30738
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC87LA261
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30738/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87LA261

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - ifr procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - drizzle/mist (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DRG ARRIVAL, THE PLT WAS CLRD FOR AN NDB-A APCH TO FITCHBURG MUNI ARPT. THE NDB WAS LOCATED ON THE ARPT & THE ARPT ELEV WAS 350'. THE MIN DSCNT ALT (MDA) WAS 1140' MSL. THE APCH PROCEDURE WAS TO GO OUTBND FM THE NDB ON A 137 DEG BEARING, MAKE A PROCEDURE TURN, THEN TRACK INBND ON A FINAL APCH COURSE OF 317 DEG. THE MISSED APCH PROCEDURE WAS TO MAKE A CLIMBING RIGHT TURN TO 2500', DIRECT TO THE NDB, THEN HOLD. THE PLT BEGAN THE APCH & THOUGHT HE HAD PROCEEDED TO THE MISSED APCH POINT OVER THE ARPT WHEN THE ACDNT OCCURRED. HOWEVER, THE ACFT CRASHED IN THE SIDE OF A TREE COVERED HILL, APRX 2-1/2 MI SOUTHWEST OF THE ARPT, WHILE IN LVL FLT AT APRX 1150' MSL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N99151](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N99151-1989-03-21), registration cancelled 1989-03-21, S/N 17276411 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17276411
- Airframe hours: 11218
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Richmor Aviation
- Registered owner: R & J Pasciullo Associates
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, September 9, 1987, 218 hours before
- Departed: 5B2, SARATOGA SPRING, NY
- Destination: FIT, FITCHBURG, MA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: FIT, Fitchburg Muni

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 7,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 6,750 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 10° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Observed at: BED, 21 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 19870919082349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870919082349A), Sep 19, 1987: Cessna 172P, Fitchburg, MA, Destroyed. Plane collided with trees and terrain on a hill while executing an NDB approach. Was left of approach course.

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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