Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lewisburg, Ohio 43078
Thursday, March 25, 1993 20:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM AN ELEVATION OF 1,060 FEET MSL IN VFR WEATHER, THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED GROUND FOG. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE TRIED TO MANEUVER AROUND THE FOG, BUT THE AIRPLANE ENTERED ANOTHER LAYER OF GROUND FOG. SHORTLY AFTER THIS, HE GLANCED AT HIS INSTRUMENTS AND NOTICED THE AIRPLANE WAS DESCENDING. HE SAID HE STARTED TO ATTAIN A CLIMB ATTITUDE WHEN HE SAW THE TERRAIN DIRECTLY BELOW. HE SAID HE TRIED TO PULL UP BUT THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE LOCAL WEATHER WAS REPORTING 6 TO 8 MILES VISIBILITY AND GROUND FOG. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT AN ELEVATION OF 1,280 FEET MSL DURING THE HOURS OF DARKNESS. THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS NON INSTRUMENT RATED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT EXPERIENCED SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DARK NIGHT AND INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/25/1993
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 2000
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City LEWISBURG
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 43078
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 3
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2000 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 260
Weather Observation Facility ID DAY
Elevation of weather observation facility 925
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 50
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 10
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 3
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 735
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 26 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1200
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 48118
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:11PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N73436
NTSB Number BFO93LA059
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 172
Aircraft Series Identifier 172
Aircraft Serial Number 17267460
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
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 Jun 2 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CENTRAL OHIO FLYING ASSOC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 21495
Aircraft Owner City COLUMBUS
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 43221
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CENTRAL OHIO FLYING ASSOC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address PO BOX 21495
Operator City COLUMBUS
Operator State OH
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 43221
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 I74
Departure City URBANA
Departure State OH
Departure Country
Departure Time 2000
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code OSU
Destination City COLUMBUS
Destination State OH
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
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 --