# NTSB NYC88FA236: Cessna 172N, N6586J, Adams, MA, September 17, 1988 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: September 17, 1988, 19:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Adams, MA - Location: 42.6291° N, 73.1187° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Adams, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6291&lon=-73.1187&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal, 1 serious - Status: Completed, report July 18, 1990 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Safety recommendations: Yes - NTSB case key (mKey): 36015 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC88FA236 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36015/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88FA236 ## Probable cause PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND IMPROPER INFLIGHT DECISIONS, HE CONTINUED VFR INTO IFR CONDITIONS. THE AIR ROUTE TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTER SERVICE WAS IMPROPER. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - flight advisories - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - monitoring - inadequate, atc personnel(dep/apch) (contributing factor) - artcc service - inadequate, atc personnel(artcc) (cause) - instructions,written/verbal - inadequate, atc personnel(artcc) (cause) - procedure inadequate (cause) - safety advisory - not issued, atc personnel(artcc) (contributing factor) - inadequate training(emergency procedure(s)), faa(other/organization) (contributing factor) - supervision - inadequate, atc personnel(supervisor) (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) ## Analysis DRG VFR FLT, N6586J ENCTRD WX, BGN CIRCLING HAY FLD FOR EMERG LNDG & MADE DISTRESS CALL ON EMERG FREQ 121.5 MHZ. N6586J WAS TOO LOW TO CTC ATC FACILITIES, BUT MONARCH FLT 58 (BOEING 757) HEARD THE PLT CALL & OFFERED TO HELP. ALBANY APCH CTLRESPONDED ON SAME FREQ (121.5) & FLT 58 RELAYED INFO TO & FM N6586J. ALBANY CTLR PROVIDED INFO OF 3700' MTN PEAK IN VCNTY, BUT PLT OF FLT 58 DIDN'T RELAY TRRN ELEV TO N6586J, NOR DID THE CTLR NOTE THE ERROR. BOSTON ARTCC ESTAB RADAR CTCWITH N6586J & BGN RELAYING VECTORS, BUT CTLR THOUGHT PLT WAS PROVIDING HIS OWN TRRN SEPN, BECAUSE HE WAS VFR. THUS, THE CTLR ISSUED VECTOR BELOW MIN VECTORING ALT (MVA), WHICH WAS 4000' OR ABV. PLT ENCTRD IMC & RPRTD DSCNDG TO 2500' TO "TRYTO GET OUT OF THE CLOUDS." SUBSEQUENTLY, ACFT CRASHED ON MT FITCH. ATC HANDBOOK ALLOWED VECTORING OF VFR ACFT BELOW MVAWITH NO WARNING OF TRRN. ATC CTLRS DID NOT ADHERE TO EMERG PROCEDURES IN HANDBOOK. THE INVOLVED SUPVRS TOOK NO ACTION TOCORRECT THE SITUATION. INVOLVED CTLRS LACKED TRNG IN HANDLING EMERGENCIES CONCERNING VFR PLTS THAT ENCTR WX BELOW MVA. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6586J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6586J-1991-10-10), registration cancelled 1991-10-10, S/N 17273895 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172-73895 - Airframe hours: 1012 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Larry A. Bugbee - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 5, 1988, 957 hours before - Departed: WST, WESTERLY, RI - Destination: 5B5, BENNINGTON, VT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 68 total, 55 in this make and model, 18 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 20 knots, gusting 30 - Temperature: 138 °F, dew point 127 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: 5B5, 15 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 19880917047369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880917047369A), Sep 17, 1988: Cessna 172N, North Adams, MA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Weather closing. Ask VFR vectors to nearest airport. Entered clouds, flew into mountain. ## Other investigations on N6586J (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX81DUK07](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81DUK07), Sep 25, 1981: Cessna 172 (N6586J), Wahweap, AZ, substantial damage 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.