Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Crossville, Tennessee 37841
Friday, June 3, 2005 14:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, when he departed his departure airport for his short cross-country flight he requested to fly visual flight rules on top due to the low visibility. Upon arriving at the destination airport, the pilot discovered that there was a cloud layer over the airport. He looked for an opening in the clouds so that he could begin his descent. During the descent through the clouds the pilot encountered instrument meteorological conditions. As the flight descended through the clouds, the airplane collided with the ground. The pilot did not report any flight control or mechanical anomalies prior to the accident. The nearest weather reporting facility Crossville Memorial Airport reported: scattered clouds at 1000 feet, overcast at 1700 feet, and seven miles visibility.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's continued VFR flight into IMC conditions which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees. A related factor was the clouds.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/3/2005
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Crossville
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 37841
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 365942N
Event Location Longitude 0844820W
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1430 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 300
Weather Observation Facility ID CSV
Elevation of weather observation facility 1881
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 38
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 1700
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.96
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
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) 19857
NTSB Notification Source FAA Communication Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 28 2006 1:30PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1202V
NTSB Number ATL05CA092
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number R1722138
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name STUDEBAKER LOWELL G
Aircraft Owner Street Address 415 CAYUGA DR
Aircraft Owner City LOUDON
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 37774
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 SCX
Departure City ONEIDA
Departure State TN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MNV
Destination City MADISONVILLE
Destination State TN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 7 2005 10:11AM
User who most recently changed record POWP
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --