# NTSB NYC88LA199: Cessna 172L, N19699, No. Kingstown, RI, July 30, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 30, 1988, 05:03 local (09:03 UTC)
- Place: No. Kingstown, RI
- Location: 41.5501° N, 71.4662° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of North Kingstown, RI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5501&lon=-71.4662&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 25, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36196
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC88LA199
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36196/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88LA199

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE BOSTON CENTER CONTROLLER TO ADEQUATELY UNDERSTAND THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S REQUEST AND TO ASSESS THE GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, landing
  - weather condition - fog
  - approach charts - unavailable
  - fuel supply - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - water

## Analysis

THE FLT DEPARTED WILMINGTON, DE, ON AN IFR FLT PLAN EN ROUTE TO BLOCK ISLAND. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, AS HE PASSED THE HAMPTON VOR HE SAW FOG OBSCURING THE GROUND. UPON REACHING THE DESTINATION, BOSTON CENTER CLEARED THE ACFT FOR THE APCH TO BLOCK ISLAND. THE PLT STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO SHOOT THE APCH DUE TO LOW FUEL AND REQUESTED ASSISTANCE TO A CLEAR AREA OR TO AN ILS APCH. BOSTON CENTER VECTORED THE ACFT TO THE GROTON ARPT WHERE THE PLT MADE AT LEAST FOUR ATTEMPTS TO LOCATE THE ARPT. THE ACFT WAS THEN VECTORED TO WESTERLY, WHERE ONCE AGAIN THE ARPT COULD NOT BE LOCATED DUE TO WX. THE ACFT WAS BEING VECTORED TO PROVIDENCE WHEN FUEL EXHAUSTION WAS EXPERIENCED AND THE ACFT WAS DITCHED IN THE NARRAGANSET BAY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N19699](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N19699-1990-08-15), registration cancelled 1990-08-15, S/N 17260681 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172L
- Registry model: [Cessna 172L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172l) (registry code 2072432) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 60681
- Airframe hours: 2020
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Stephen A. Yarnell
- Registered owner: Stephen, A Yarnall
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 12, 1988, 12 hours before
- Departed: ILG, WILMINGTON, DE
- Destination: BID, BLOCK ISLAND, RI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: PVO, Providence

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 320 total, 205 in this make and model, 200 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dawn
- Wind: 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 70 °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 19880730071549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880730071549A), Jul 30, 1988: Cessna 172L, Providence, RI, Substantial damage. IFR flight plan into predicted fog conditions. Numerous missed approaches and vectors. Ditched in bay.

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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