# NTSB SEA90FA183: Cessna 172-P, N5332K, Hood River, OR, September 16, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 15, 1990, 20:22 local (Sep 16, 1990, 03:22 UTC)
- Place: Hood River, OR
- Coordinates: 45.609558, -121.57901 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6096&lon=-121.5790&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 3 serious
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41128
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA90FA183
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41128/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA90FA183

## Probable cause

THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S ENCOUNTERING SPATIAL DISORIENTATION AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, landing - aborted
  - light condition - dark night
  - weather condition - rain
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE RECENTLY CERT PRIVATE PILOT WHO WAS NOT RATED FOR INST FLT TOOK OFF AT NIGHT ON A VFR X-COUNTRY FLT INTO AN AREA OF KNOWN IMC WX. WHEN THE FLT ENCOUNTERED ADVERSE WX, THE PILOT REVERSED COURSE AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND AT AN UNFAMILIAR ARPT. THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN LONG AND THE PILOT ANNOUNCED ON UNICOM THAT HE WAS MAKING A GO-AROUND. THE ACFT CLIMBED TO ABOUT 200 FT AGL, STALLED AND DESCENDED NOSE DOWN UNTIL IT IMPACTED THE GROUND. SKY WAS OVERCAST AND MODERATE RAIN WAS FALLING. THERE WAS NO ARTIFICIAL LIGHT IN THE DIRECTION OF FLT. THE PILOT HAD 5 HRS NIGHT TIME AND NONE OUTSIDE A LIGHTED METRO AREA.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5332K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5332K-2013-04-18), registration cancelled 2013-04-18, S/N 17274068, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172-P
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17274068
- Airframe hours: 4685
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Wings Aloft, Inc.
- Registered owner: Unknown
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 6, 1990, 21 hours before
- Departed: DLS, THE DALLES, WA
- Destination: BFI, SEATTLE, WA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 73 total, 7 in this make and model, 14 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 300° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DLS, 16 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 19900915039629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900915039629A), Sep 15, 1990: Cessna 172P, Hood River, OR, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Diverted due weather. Elected go around after landing. Stalled on a nose high,slow level,downwind,climbing turn.

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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