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NTSB Report
May 9, 1988 · Cessna 170 · N3853V
Sour Lake, TX
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 9, 1988
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (2 serious injuries, 1 minor injury)
Location
Sour Lake, TX
Aircraft
Cessna 170
Tail Number
N3853V
Operator
Robinson Richard L
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW88LA098
THE ACFT STRUCK TREES AND THE GRND DURING A NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY IN MARGINAL WEATHER. THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PVT PLT STATED THAT HE WAS FLYING IN CRUISE FLT AT 1250' MSL WHEN HE HIT TREES. THE CLOSEST WX STATION RECORDED 1200 OVERCAST WITH 5 MILES VISIBILITY, TEMP 74, DEW PT 70. THE AREA OF THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS SPARSELY POPULATED AND KNOWN TO DEVELOP FOG AND RAGGED CEILINGS DURING SIMILAR CONDITIONS. THE ACDT SITE ELV WAS 15' AND THE TREES WERE 60-100' TALL. PLT RPTD THAT HIS ALTIMETER MALFUNCTIONED, HOWEVER, POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION AND TESTING DID NO REVEAL ANY FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION IN THE LOWER ALTITUDES. ALTIMETER WAS LAST CALIBRATED AND TESTED 17 YRS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE SURVIVORS WERE LOCATED ABOUT 16 HRS AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
Full Narrative
THE ACFT STRUCK TREES AND THE GRND DURING A NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY IN MARGINAL WEATHER. THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PVT PLT STATED THAT HE WAS FLYING IN CRUISE FLT AT 1250' MSL WHEN HE HIT TREES. THE CLOSEST WX STATION RECORDED 1200 OVERCAST WITH 5 MILES VISIBILITY, TEMP 74, DEW PT 70. THE AREA OF THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS SPARSELY POPULATED AND KNOWN TO DEVELOP FOG AND RAGGED CEILINGS DURING SIMILAR CONDITIONS. THE ACDT SITE ELV WAS 15' AND THE TREES WERE 60-100' TALL. PLT RPTD THAT HIS ALTIMETER MALFUNCTIONED, HOWEVER, POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION AND TESTING DID NO REVEAL ANY FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION IN THE LOWER ALTITUDES. ALTIMETER WAS LAST CALIBRATED AND TESTED 17 YRS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE SURVIVORS WERE LOCATED ABOUT 16 HRS AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time21:20 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftCessna 170
Tail NumberN3853V
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorRobinson Richard L
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · C-145 · Reciprocating · 145
Seats4
People & Injuries
Injury Summary3 injuries (2 serious injuries, 1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious2
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 46 · Third Class
Conditions
ConditionsUnknown
LightDark Night
Wind160° @ 12 kt
Visibility5 sm
CeilingOvercast 1200 ft
Temperature / Dew Point70 F
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time01:49
Weather SourceWFAC