Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Carrollton, Georgia 30117
Sunday, March 8, 2009 8:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The non-instrument-rated pilot and two passengers departed under visual meteorological conditions and encountered instrument meteorological conditions while en route to their destination. A witness near the accident site stated she heard a "whining high speed sound" followed by a "thud." She noticed water splashing up from a lake, into the air, which was followed by silence. The airplane crashed into a private lake, and was located at a depth of approximately 16 feet and heavily fragmented, consistent with a high speed impact. Subsequent examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any preimpact abnormalities. The pilot did not obtain a weather briefing prior to the flight. A witness near the accident site described the weather conditions at the time of the accident as "low cloud cover" with fog drifting across the surface of the lake, and "misty overcast." Another witness stated that conditions were "very foggy." The pilot had accumulated about 168 hours of total flight experience, which included about 70 hours as pilot-in-command, and 3.2 hours logged as "simulated instrument," and 0 hours logged in "actual instrument" meteorological conditions.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's decision to continue visual flight rules flight into an area of reduced visibility weather conditions, which resulted in disorientation and subsequent loss of aircraft control.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/8/2009
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 845
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Carrollton
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30117
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 333246N
Event Location Longitude 0850828W
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 900 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 125
Weather Observation Facility ID CCO
Elevation of weather observation facility 970
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 26
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 300
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.21
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 3
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 26855
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 8 2010 3:40PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1913M
NTSB Number ERA09FA185
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 182P
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18264478
Certified Max Gross Weight 2950
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 18 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 65
Airframe Hours 2765
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91
Aircraft Owner Name Brian Kearney
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4505 Bankside CT. NE
Aircraft Owner City Marietta
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 30066
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Brian Kearney
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 4505 Bankside CT. NE
Operator City Marietta
Operator State GA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 30066
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
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 RYY
Departure City Kennesaw
Departure State GA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 805
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 4A7
Destination City Hampton
Destination State GA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 27 2010 12:53PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --