Morgantown Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Morgantown, West Virginia 26505
Monday, October 20, 1997 13:05 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While en route, the pilot called ATC and amended his final destination. The airplane was at 5,000 feet in the vicinity of the original destination when ATC instructed the pilot to climb and maintain 6,000. Shortly thereafter, the pilot reported a loss of engine power. The pilot was advised the airport was at his 6 o'clock position and 5 miles. The controller repeatedly instructed the pilot to '...turn around...' and '...make a left turn around...' to a heading of 020 degrees. The pilot asked for the heading and it was repeated by the controller. The pilot acknowledged '...020.' When the controller asked if the pilot could turn to a heading of 020 the pilot responded, 'I'm heading 220...' The airplane collided with terrain approximately 10 miles from the airport. Examination of the pilot's logbook revealed approximately 117 hours of flight experience in the 6 years prior to the accident. The pilot was not current for IFR flight. The pilot's CFI stated he recommended instrument proficiency training to the pilot 6 months prior to the accident. The airplane was in cruise flight in conditions conducive to serious icing at cruise power.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power due to carburetor ice and the pilot's failure to follow ATC instructions during the emergency descent.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/20/1997
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1305
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MORGANTOWN
Event State WEST VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 26505
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MORGANTOWN MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MGW
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 9
Degrees magnetic from airport 180
Airport Elevation 1248
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1245 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID MGW
Elevation of weather observation facility 1248
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 9
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
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) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
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 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1804
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 20 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1430
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:38PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9388G
NTSB Number NYC98FA016
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 18260928
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 Aug 25 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 32
Airframe Hours 3647
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GEORGE A. SHAWKEY
Aircraft Owner Street Address 207 BEAUREGARD AVENUE
Aircraft Owner City CHARLESTON
Aircraft Owner State WV
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 25301
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 ROC
Departure City ROCHESTER
Departure State NY
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CRW
Destination City CHARLESTON
Destination State WV
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 --