Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Princeton, West Virginia 24740
Thursday, March 14, 1991 16:55 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS ON AN ILS APPROACH WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED AIRFRAME ICING. THE PILOT WAS ADVISED EARLIER OF ICING CONDITIONS IN THE AREA, SO HE DELAYED HIS DESCENT TO MINIMIZE EXPOSURE TO THE CONDITIONS. DURING THE APPROACH SOME OF HIS PASSENGERS NOTICED ICE ACCRETION ON THE AIRFRAME. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT SOON AFTERWARDS, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO ROLL FROM LEFT TO RIGHT WITH A SIMULTANEOUS LOSS OF AIRSPEED, DESPITE THE ENGINE OPERATING THE ENTIRE TIME. HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED BELOW THE CLOUDS OVER A RESIDENTIAL AREA. THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY STRUCK TWO HOUSES, COMING TO A STOP WHEN IT STRUCK THE SECOND HOUSE. THE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE INFLIGHT DECISION WHICH RESULTED IN AIRFRAME ICING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/14/1991
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1655
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City PRINCETON
Event State WEST VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 24740
Event Date Year 1991
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 1655 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 230
Weather Observation Facility ID BLF
Elevation of weather observation facility 2857
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 500
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) 2
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 4
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2293
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 14 1991 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 50105
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 9:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3529Y
NTSB Number BFO91FA031
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 182F
Aircraft Series Identifier 182F
Aircraft Serial Number
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
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 Jan 2 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name THOMAS O. METCALFE
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 123 ROUTE 2
Aircraft Owner City BLUEFIED
Aircraft Owner State WV
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 24605
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name THOMAS O. METCALFE, JR.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address BOX 123 ROUTE 2
Operator City BLUEFIELD
Operator State VA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 24605
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 CAE
Departure City COLUMBIA
Departure State SC
Departure Country
Departure Time 1430
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BLF
Destination City BLUEFIELD
Destination State VA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --