# NTSB NYC90FA107: Cessna 182D, N8757X, Numidia, PA, May 15, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 15, 1990, 06:00 local (10:00 UTC)
- Place: Numidia, PA
- Location: 40.8786° N, 76.4047° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Numidia, PA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8786&lon=-76.4047&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 2, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36533
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC90FA107
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36533/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90FA107

## Probable cause

INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH TREES WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAINTAIN VISUAL REFERENCE WITH THE GROUND IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL FLIGHT CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S DECISION TO CONTINUE THE FLIGHT IN DETERIORATING WEATHER CONDITIONS IN AN AREA OF HIGH TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, cruise
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE TOOK OFF FROM AN UNCONTROLLED ARPT, ENROUTE TO AN ARPT WITH AN ILS. THE PILOT HAD RECEIVED HIS INSTRUMENT RATING 3 WEEKS PRIOR AND THE AIRPLANE WAS INSTRUMENT EQUIPPED. THERE WAS NO RECORD OF A WEATHER BRIEFING FOR THE PILOT OR A FLIGHT PLAN FOR THE TRIP. RADAR DATA SHOWED A UNIDENTIFIED CODE 1200 AND THEN A PRIMARY TARGET MOVING FIRST IN AN EASTERLY DIRECTION, MANEUVERING, AND THEN HEADED BACK WEST. THE LAST TARGET WAS 7 MILES FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED TREES ON A RIDGE LINE HEADING IN A WESTERLY DIRECTION, HEADING TOWARD THE AIRPORT OF DEPARTURE. EYEWITNESSES IN THE AREA REPORTED REDUCED VISIBILITY WITH FOG ON THE MOUNTAIN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8757X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8757X-1990-11-21), registration cancelled 1990-11-21, S/N 18253157 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182D
- Registry model: [Cessna 182D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182d) (registry code 2072710) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18253157
- Airframe hours: 1700
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-L 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Registered owner: Frank A. Pavelko
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 15, 1990
- Departed: N79, SHAMOKIN, PA
- Destination: H2L, HAZLETON, PA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,056 total, 956 in this make and model, 685 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day

## 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 19900515015759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900515015759A), May 15, 1990: Cessna 182D, Numidia, PA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Flew into trees on a ridge line obscured by fog. Public aircraft on a positioning flight for state forestry service

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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