Lewis B. Wilson Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Macon, Georgia 31206
Thursday, February 13, 1992 9:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT STATED THAT AFTER COMPLETING INSTRUMENT TRAINING IN THE LOCAL AREA, HE ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO HIS DEPARTURE AIRPORT. THE APPROACH WAS UNSUCCESSFUL DUE TO THE LOW CEILINGS AND FOG IN THE AREA. HE ELECTED TO PROCEED TO HIS ALTERNATE AIRPORT AND WAS EXECUTING AN APPROACH INTO THE AIRPORT, WHEN HE OBSERVED A FIELD BELOW THE AIRCRAFT. HE ELECTED TO ATTEMPT A LANDING IN THE FIELD BECAUSE HE DID NOT BELIEVE THE APPROACH INTO THE ALTERNATE AIRPORT WOULD BE SUCCESSFUL DUE TO THE LOW CEILINGS AND FOG. WHEN ASKED BY THE FAA INSPECTOR WHY HE ATTEMPTED THE OFF AIRPORT LANDING WHEN NO EMERGENCY EXISTED, THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT REPLIED 'HE DID NOT KNOW'.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISION BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TO ATTEMPT A PRECAUTIONARY OFF AIRPORT LANDING WHEN NO EMERGENCY EXISTED. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE FOG AND LOW CEILINGS IN THE AREA AT THE TIME.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/13/1992
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 930
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City MACON
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 31206
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport LEWIS B. WILSON
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MCN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport 230
Airport Elevation 354
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 953 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 50
Weather Observation Facility ID MCN
Elevation of weather observation facility 354
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 2
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 300
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Partial Obscuration
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) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 227
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 46245
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:44PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N89071
NTSB Number ATL92LA044
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
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 15282617
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 29 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 54
Airframe Hours 5313
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name REGISTER AVIATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address 500 AIRPORT RD.
Aircraft Owner City PERRY
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 31069
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name REGISTER AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 500 AIRPORT RD.
Operator City PERRY
Operator State GA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 31069
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 54A
Departure City PERRY
Departure State GA
Departure Country
Departure Time 720
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 5
Runway Length 6501
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --