Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Blanco, Texas 78606
Wednesday, April 21, 1999 22:40 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The non-instrument rated private pilot failed to maintain clearance with terrain during a dark night, instrument meteorological conditions, flight. Witnesses near the accident site reported observing the airplane flying 'extremely low' from the northwest toward the southeast. The witnesses added that the airplane turned toward the south, then disappeared behind a hill. All but one of the witnesses stated that they heard a constant engine noise, which became 'muffled' when the airplane went behind the hill. They reported hearing the sound of the airplane impacting the ground and then seeing the first signs of a fire. The witnesses added that the airplane remained below the 'low' clouds and that a light drizzle was falling. According to area weather observations, the cloud bases near the accident site were approximately 800 feet above the ground. The pilot had accumulated 9.2 hours of simulated instrument flight and 55.4 hours of night flying experience at the time of the accident. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies that would have prevented normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's continued flight into adverse weather conditions and his failure to maintain clearance with terrain. Factors were, the low cloud and drizzle weather conditions, and the dark night light conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/21/1999
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 2240
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City BLANCO
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 78606
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 36
Degrees magnetic from airport 360
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2235 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 135
Weather Observation Facility ID BAZ
Elevation of weather observation facility 649
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 36
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 1700
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1700
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Overcast
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 16
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 1846
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 820
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 21 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2315
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 11:29AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2330R
NTSB Number FTW99FA121
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 182G
Aircraft Series Identifier 182G
Aircraft Serial Number 18255430
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 2 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 17
Airframe Hours 2491
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DANIEL K. SCHREIBER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 6235 RAIN CLOUD DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City SAN ANTONIO
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 78238
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code COM
Departure City COLEMAN
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 2130
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SAT
Destination City SAN ANTONIO
Destination State TX
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --