Bangor International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Brewer, Maine 04412
Wednesday, July 24, 1996 10:44 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot performed a missed approach at his destination and flew to an alternate airport. During two ILS approaches at his alternate, the airplane did not descend to minimums, which resulted in two missed approaches. After initiating the second missed approach, the airplane collided with terrain in an uncontrolled descent. Examination of the accident site revealed evidence that the airplane had crashed in a steep descent. No preimpact failure of the airframe, engine, or instruments was found; however, the airplane was extensively damaged during impact. The investigation revealed that the pilot received 64 hours of dual instruction over a 6 month period in 1994, before his first solo flight. He acquired a total of 103 hours of dual flight instruction and 32 hours of solo flight over 14 months before he obtained his private pilot certificate. The pilot obtained instrument training over another 10 month period, and obtained his instrument rating in Florida on July 17, and departed for Maine on July 18. This was the pilot's first solo flight in actual instrument conditions. Before the accident flight, the pilot's actual weather experience totaled 6/10 of an hour, which was acquired during 3 separate flights with a certified flight instructor.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

failure of the pilot to maintain control of the airplane, during a missed approach, after diverting to an alternate destination, while on his first solo flight in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/24/1996
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1044
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City BREWER
Event State MAINE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 04412
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BANGOR INTERNATIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BGR
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 7
Degrees magnetic from airport 150
Airport Elevation 192
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1045 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 300
Weather Observation Facility ID BGR
Elevation of weather observation facility 192
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 6
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 700
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) 8
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
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 Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1344
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 24 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1230
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:13AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9920E
NTSB Number NYC96FA157
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 182P
Aircraft Series Identifier 182P
Aircraft Serial Number 18263980
Certified Max Gross Weight 2950
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 23 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 97
Airframe Hours 2619
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BOCA HAWK INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3725 VICTORIA WAY
Aircraft Owner City BOCO RATON
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33434
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 MVY
Departure City MARTHA'S VINYRD
Departure State MA
Departure Country
Departure Time 830
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code RKD
Destination City ROCKLAND
Destination State ME
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Missed approach (IFR)
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 33
Runway Length 11439
Runway Width 300
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --