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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, 1989 · Cessna 172D · N2556U

Cumming, GA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 27, 1989
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Cumming, GA
Aircraft
Cessna 172D
Tail Number
N2556U
Operator
E Wayne Fredericks
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ATL89LA083

The pilot had made a flight from his home airport to Augusta and upon returning, had to divert due to weather. He had departed Augusta about 2315, landed at PDK about 2400, and obtained a weather briefing from FSS about 0122. The briefer indicated that weather conditions were IFR and the pilot stated that he was 'instrument' but the plane was not (no attitude indicator). The pilot indicated that he departed PDK for McCollum about 0245. At 0306, ZTL recorded a call from the pilot that he 'got into some soup and was VFR'. He indicated that he was not IFR qualified. After some vectors, the pilot indicated that he could see the ground. He was turned toward PDK at his request and then radioed that he was out of fuel. He had indicated sufficient fuel for 1 1/2 hours earlier in the sequence of events. Total time from initial radio contact to fuel exhaustion was about 32 minutes. During the forced landing the aircraft collided with a power line and trees.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S DECISION TO ATTEMPT VFR FLIGHT IN ADVERSE METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AT NIGHT WITH AN INOPERATIVE ATTITUDE INDICATOR AND INSUFFICIENT FUEL RESERVE FOR THE INTENDED FLIGHT.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT HAD MADE A FLIGHT FROM HIS HOME AIRPORT TO AUGUSTA AND UPON RETURNING, HAD TO DIVERT DUE TO WEATHER. HE HAD DEPARTED AUGUSTA ABOUT 2315, LANDED AT PDK ABOUT 2400, AND OBTAINED A WEATHER BRIEFING FROM FSS ABOUT 0122. THE BRIEFER INDICATED THAT WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE IFR AND THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS 'INSTRUMENT' BUT THE PLANE WAS NOT (NO ATTITUDE INDICATOR). THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE DEPARTED PDK FOR MCCOLLUM ABOUT 0245. AT 0306, ZTL RECORDED A CALL FROM THE PILOT THAT HE 'GOT INTO SOME SOUP AND WAS VFR'. HE INIDCATED THAT HE WAS NOT IFR QUALIFIED. AFTER SOME VECTORS, THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE COULD SEE THE GROUND. HE WAS TURNED TOWARD PDK AT HIS REQUEST AND THEN RADIOED THAT HE WAS OUT OF FUEL. HE HAD INDICATED SUFFICIENT FUEL FOR 1 1/2 HOURS EARLIER IN THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS. TOTAL TIME FROM INITIAL RADIO CONTACT TO FUEL EXHAUSTION WAS ABOUT 32 MINUTES. DURING THE FORCED LANDING THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A POWER LINE AND TREES.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time03:43 EST
Nearest AirportMATHIS (0nm N)
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172D
Tail NumberN2556U
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorE Wayne Fredericks
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-300-D · Reciprocating · 145
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 38 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDark Night
Wind330° @ 9 kt
Visibility5 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 900 ft
Temperature / Dew Point55 / 55
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time08:44
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data