New Smyrna Bch. Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

New Smyrna Bch., Florida 32168
Saturday, December 31, 1994 19:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE NONINSTRUMENT RATED PILOT TOOK OFF IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WITH 1 MILE VISIBILITY IN FOG. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF HE LOST SIGHT OF THE GROUND, ENTERED A DIVE, AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

INTENTIONAL FLIGHT INTO KNOWN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS BY A NONINSTRUMENT-RATED PILOT, AND THE PILOT'S SUBSEQUENT SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOTS' OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS PERSONAL ABILITY.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/31/1994
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1900
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City NEW SMYRNA BCH.
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32168
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport NEW SMYRNA BCH.
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 34J
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1855 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 325
Weather Observation Facility ID DAB
Elevation of weather observation facility 35
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1492
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 31 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2045
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 12:47PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N24457
NTSB Number MIA95LA052
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 152
Aircraft Series Identifier 152
Aircraft Serial Number 15280266
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Dec 9 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 17
Airframe Hours 7521
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name VINTAGE PROPS & JETS INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2098 AERO CIRCLE
Aircraft Owner City NEW SMYRNA B
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32168
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 34J
Departure City NEW SMYRNA BCH
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1845
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 34J
Destination City
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent - uncontrolled
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 --