- Date
- October 10, 1992, 11:33 local (15:33 UTC)
- Place
- Shenandoah, PA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N4308VCessna 195
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 4, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19921010041519A
- Case key
- 37233
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
A loss of control due to pilot incapacitation.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Radar data showed the airplane in a climb to 7800 ft, level at 7700 ft for approx 1 minute, and then enter a descent. The radar data was put into a computer program which showed that the highest vertical speed recorded was 19,000 fpm, with a TAS of 279.9 KTS (321.9 mph). Evidence of flutter was found on the elevator, which separated from the horizontal stabilizers, and the wings had failed symmetrically in negative loading. The pilot had been taking vasotec for hypertension. Data supplied from flight testing found that if the airplane was trimmed for a climb at 112 mph, and the power was not changed, a 13 pound forward force on the control wheel would cause the airplane to accelerate to 196 mph. The never exceed speed for the airplane is 200 mph.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4308V
- Reported as
- Cessna 195
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 7215
- Airframe hours
- 3,163
- Engine
- Jacobs R755B-2, 275 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Herbert A. Schaffner
- Registered owner
- Herbert A. Schaffner
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 8, 1992 · 40 hours before
- Departed
- 9D4 · Myerstown, PA
- Destination
- BGM · Binghamton, NY
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 58
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 6,225 total · 1,260 in this make and model · 6,000 as pilot in command · 27 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- RDG, 29 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.