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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

January 27, 1991 · Cessna 337C · N2589S

Bryson City, NC

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 27, 1991
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Bryson City, NC
Aircraft
Cessna 337C
Tail Number
N2589S
Operator
Vernon Barron I & Christopher
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ATL91FA043

THE FLIGHT DEPARTED CLEVELAND, TENNESSEE EN ROUTE TO SYLVA, NORTH CAROLINA. ACCORDING TO THE CO-OWNER OF THE AIRCRAFT, HE HAD ADVISED THE NONINSTRUMENT RATED PILOT NOT TO ATTEMPT THE FLIGHT DUE TO THE POOR WEATHER CONDITIONS WHICH EXISTED IN THE MOUNTAINOUS AREA. THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE WAS FOUND NEAR THE TOP OF A RIDGE LINE AT 5,200 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL. THE WRECKAGE WAS DISTRIBUTED OVER AN AREA APPROXIMATELY 1,200 FEET IN LENGTH. WITNESSES IN THE AREA OF THE ACCIDENT SITE REPORTED THAT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE WEATHER WAS LESS THAN THAT REQUIRED FOR FLIGHT UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN BY THE NONINSTRUMENT RATED PILOT.

Full Narrative

THE FLIGHT DEPARTED CLEVELAND, TENNESSEE EN ROUTE TO SYLVA, NORTH CAROLINA. ACCORDING TO THE CO-OWNER OF THE AIRCRAFT, HE HAD ADVISED THE NONINSTRUMENT RATED PILOT NOT TO ATTEMPT THE FLIGHT DUE TO THE POOR WEATHER CONDITIONS WHICH EXISTED IN THE MOUNTAINOUS AREA. THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE WAS FOUND NEAR THE TOP OF A RIDGE LINE AT 5,200 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL. THE WRECKAGE WAS DISTRIBUTED OVER AN AREA APPROXIMATELY 1,200 FEET IN LENGTH. WITNESSES IN THE AREA OF THE ACCIDENT SITE REPORTED THAT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE WEATHER WAS LESS THAN THAT REQUIRED FOR FLIGHT UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:45 EST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 337C
Tail NumberN2589S
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorVernon Barron I & Christopher
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-360-C · Reciprocating · 210
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 50 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDusk
WindCalm
Visibility2 sm
CeilingOvercast 500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data