# NTSB NYC90LA131: Cessna 172, N2898U, Augusta, ME, June 16, 1990 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 16, 1990, 01:26 local (05:26 UTC) - Place: Augusta, ME - Location: 44.3207° N, 69.7973° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at AUGUSTA STATE (AUG), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3207&lon=-69.7973&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 15, 1992 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 36662 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC90LA131 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36662/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90LA131 ## Probable cause POOR JUDGEMENT OF THE PILOT, HIS DECISION TO ATTEMPT VFR FLIGHT IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S LACK OF PROPER CERTIFICATION (QUALIFICATION), HIS POSSIBLE IMPAIRMENT DUE TO CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL, DARKNESS, ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT AND FLIGHT EXPERIENCE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - initial climb - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause) - qualification, pilot in command (contributing factor) - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (contributing factor) - stolen aircraft/unauthorized use - performed, pilot in command - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - initiated, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff ## Analysis THE STUDENT PILOT'S CERTIFICATE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REVOKED FOR TAKING AN AIRPLANE WITHOUT THE OWNER'S PERMISSION. HE TOOK AN AIRPLANE AGAIN WITHOUT PERMISSION FOR A NIGHT FLIGHT IN WEATHER THAT WAS INDEFINITE 100' CEILING WITH 1/4 MI VISIBILITY & FOG. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE ENTERED CLOUDS & THE PILOT MADE A DESCENDING TURN TO REGAIN VISUAL CONTACT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND & WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED. THE OWNER SAID HE KEPT A SPARE SET OF KEYS IN THE AIRPLANE & THEY WERE MISSING TWO DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE SPARE KEYS WERE FOUND ON THE PILOT'S KEY RING AFTER THE ACCIDENT. AFTER THE DOWNED AIRPLANE & PILOT WERE FOUND, HE WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL. A SAMPLE OF HIS BLOOD WAS DRAWN & A TOXICOLOGY CHECK SHOWED IT HAD AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.01 G/DL (0.010%). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2898U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2898U-1992-12-02), registration cancelled 1992-12-02, S/N 17250498 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172d) (registry code 2072410) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17250498 - Airframe hours: 4368 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: Michael Duplessis - Registered owner: Charles L. Johnson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Unknown, October 3, 1989 - Departed: AUG - Airport: AUG, Augusta, runway 26, 2,703 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 19; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 33 total, 33 in this make and model, 8 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 190° at 7 knots - Lowest ceiling: 100 ft - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: AUG ## 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 19900616023569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900616023569A), Jun 16, 1990: Cessna 172D, Augusta, ME, Destroyed. Stole friends aircraft. Took off in IMC at night lost control. Impact with ground totally destroyed the aircraft. ## Other investigations on N2898U (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 UNK64X2333](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X2333), Jun 17, 1964: Cessna 172D (N2898U), Westerlo, NY, destroyed 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.