Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Okeechobee, Florida 33472
Monday, May 22, 1989 20:09 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

PRIOR TO DEPARTURE THE PLT WAS BRIEFED BY FSS PERSONNEL THAT THUNDERSTORMS EXISTED ALONG THE ROUTE OF FLT & ADVISED TO WAIT AN HOUR FOR MOVEMENT TO THE EAST. THE PLT DID NOT CONTACT THE FSS AGAIN PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. THE FLT DEPARTED 1 HR 29 MINUTES LATER & WHEN NORTH OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE, FL, ENCOUNTERED WEATHER ASSOCIATED WITH A THUNDERSTORM & WITH DARKNESS APPROACHING, ELECTED TO PERFORM A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE NOSE GEAR COLLIDED WITH A MOUND OF DIRT, COLLAPSING IT, & BOTH WINGS COLLIDED WITH TREES BEFORE THE AIRPLANE STOPPED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S POOR PREFLIGHT PREPARATION WHEN HE FAILED TO RECHECK WEATHER CONDITIONS AFTER HE DELAYED TAKEOFF BECAUSE OF THUNDERSTROMS. ALSO, THE PILOT'S POOR INFLIGHT DECISION TO LAND OFF-AIRPORT RATHER THAN RETURN TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/22/1989
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 2009
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City OKEECHOBEE
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33472
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 5
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 Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2050 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 73
Weather Observation Facility ID VRB
Elevation of weather observation facility 25
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 22
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 8000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 20
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 900
Intensity of Precipitation Light
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 --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 742
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 23 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 630
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40246
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:41PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9139H
NTSB Number MIA89LA152
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172M
Aircraft Series Identifier 172M
Aircraft Serial Number 17265968
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 25 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 96
Airframe Hours 3157
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GENERAL AVIATION INT'L. CORP.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 652126
Aircraft Owner City MIAMI
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33165
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GENERAL AVIATION INT'L CORP.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 164924
Operator City MIAMI
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 33116
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code SFB
Departure City SANFORD
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1909
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code TMB
Destination City MIAMI
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - roll
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 --