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NTSB Report

May 21, 1990 · Rockwell 114 · N4859W

Willoughby Hill, OH

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 21, 1990
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Willoughby Hill, OH
Aircraft
Rockwell 114
Tail Number
N4859W
Operator
Finder S Diversified
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
CHI90FA131

DRG ARRIVAL, THE PLT MADE 2 VOR APCHS TO LOST NATION ARPT, THEN ELECTED TO DIVERT FOR AN ILS RWY 23 APCH AT THE NEARBY CUYAHOGA COUNTY ARPT. WHILE BEING VECTORED FOR THE ILS, HE WAS ADZD THE LATEST ARPT WX WAS (IN PART): 100 FT OBSCURED, VIS 1/8 MI WITH FOG. AT 2218 EDT, THE PLT WAS ADZD HE WAS 5 MI FROM KROOK (OUTER MARKER/FINAL APCH FIX) & WAS CLRD FOR THE APCH. APCH MINIMA WERE CEILING 200 FT, VIS 1/2 MI. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT DEVIATED ABOUT 1100 FT RGT OF THE ILS LOCALIZER COURSE LINE AND HIT A POWER LINE POLE ABOUT 2500 FT SHORT OF THE RWY. IMPACT OCCURRED ABOUT 12 AGL AS THE ACFT WAS IN A RGT TURN, HDG 290 DEG. THE ACFT THEN HIT A TREE, CRASHED AT THE SAME ELEV AS THE ARPT, SLID INTO THE BREEZWAY OF A HOUSE/GARAGE & BURNED. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT WAS FND. AFTER THE ACDNT, THE NEXT OBSERVATION SHOWED THE WX HAD DETERIORATED TO: INDEFINITE, ZERO CEILING, SKY OBSCURED, VIS 1/8 MI WITH FOG, WIND FROM 360 DEG AT 8 KTS.

NTSB Probable Cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO FOLLOW THE IFR PROCEDURE AND TO IDENTIFY THE DECISION HEIGHT (AND/OR MAKE A TIMELY MISSED APPROACH). THE ADVERSE WEATHER WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

Full Narrative

DRG ARRIVAL, THE PLT MADE 2 VOR APCHS TO LOST NATION ARPT, THEN ELECTED TO DIVERT FOR AN ILS RWY 23 APCH AT THE NEARBY CUYAHOGA COUNTY ARPT. WHILE BEING VECTORED FOR THE ILS, HE WAS ADZD THE LATEST ARPT WX WAS (IN PART): 100 FT OBSCURED, VIS 1/8 MI WITH FOG. AT 2218 EDT, THE PLT WAS ADZD HE WAS 5 MI FROM KROOK (OUTER MARKER/FINAL APCH FIX) & WAS CLRD FOR THE APCH. APCH MINIMA WERE CEILING 200 FT, VIS 1/2 MI. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT DEVIATED ABOUT 1100 FT RGT OF THE ILS LOCALIZER COURSE LINE AND HIT A POWER LINE POLE ABOUT 2500 FT SHORT OF THE RWY. IMPACT OCCURRED ABOUT 12 AGL AS THE ACFT WAS IN A RGT TURN, HDG 290 DEG. THE ACFT THEN HIT A TREE, CRASHED AT THE SAME ELEV AS THE ARPT, SLID INTO THE BREEZWAY OF A HOUSE/GARAGE & BURNED. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT WAS FND. AFTER THE ACDNT, THE NEXT OBSERVATION SHOWED THE WX HAD DETERIORATED TO: INDEFINITE, ZERO CEILING, SKY OBSCURED, VIS 1/8 MI WITH FOG, WIND FROM 360 DEG AT 8 KTS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time22:22 EDT
Nearest AirportCuyahoga County (0nm N)
Runway23
Runway Length5101 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftRockwell 114
Tail NumberN4859W
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorFinder S Diversified
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-T4B5D · Reciprocating · 260
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 52 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDark Night
Wind360° @ 8 kt
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point54 / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time02:30
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data