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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

November 27, 1994 · Cessna 182P · N6556M

Greer, SC

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 27, 1994
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Greer, SC
Aircraft
Cessna 182P
Tail Number
N6556M
Operator
Cosgrove Kenneth
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL95LA020

THE FLIGHT HAD BEEN DIVERTED FROM THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, AND HAD COMPLETED TWO MISSED APPROACHES AT AN ALTERNATE. DURING THE THIRD APPROACH, THE PILOT SAW LIGHTS BELOW THE AIRPLANE, AND SHIFTED HIS ATTENTION FROM THE FLIGHT INSTRUMENTS TO THE LIGHTS. AS THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED, THE PILOT REALIZED THAT THE LIGHTS WERE NOT APPROACH LIGHTS. BEFORE HE COULD APPLY POWER AND ESTABLISH A CLIMB ATTITUDE, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A FENCE. THE 74-YEAR-OLD PILOT ATTRIBUTED THE ACCIDENT TO THE STRESS AND FATIGUE OF THE OTHER APPROACHES, AND HIS DESIRE TO MEET A SCHEDULE. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED WITH THE AIRCRAFT.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW INSTRUMENT APPROACH PROCEDURES AND HIS PREMATURE DESCENT BELOW THE PUBLISHED DECISION HEIGHT. A FACTOR WAS PILOT FATIGUE.

Full Narrative

On November 27, 1994, at 1825 eastern standard time, a Cessna 182P, N6556M, collided with a chain link fence one half mile west of the Greenville-Spartanburg Airport, in Greer, South Carolina. The personal flight operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 with an instrument flight plan filed. Instrument flight rules weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the pilot received minor injuries. The flight departed Gainesville, Florida, at 1500 hours. According to the pilot, he had attempted two other instrument approaches. While on the third final approach for landing, he saw a series of ground lights through the clouds. When the pilot descended below the cloud layer, he discovered that the lights were not approach lights, but were security lights around a local business. Before the pilot could establish a climb attitude, the airplane collided with the six foot fence around the business. Examination of the airplane failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction or component failure. Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane was on the localizer course when the collision occurred. The published missed approach decision height/weather minimum for the ILS Runway 3 was two hundred feet and one half mile. The pilot stated that the stress of two missed approaches and a level of fatigue were possible contributing factors to this accident (see attached pilot aircraft accident report).

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:25 EST
Nearest AirportGreenville/Spartanburg (1nm WSW)
Runway3
Runway Length7600 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 182P
Tail NumberN6556M
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorCosgrove Kenneth
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-470-R · Reciprocating · 230
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 74 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDark Night
Wind30° @ 10 kt
Visibility0.5 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 300 ft
Temperature / Dew Point41 C / 39 C
Altimeter0
Observation Time23:49
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data