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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

May 3, 1989 · Cessna 172P · N5253K

Burnet, TX

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 3, 1989
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Burnet, TX
Aircraft
Cessna 172P
Tail Number
N5253K
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW89FA090

The non-instrument rated pilot was advised before departing on a cross country flight that VFR flight was not recommended. He departed without filing a flight plan. Before reaching an intermediate stop, he obtained an updated weather briefing for the local area and his final destination. After refueling, he took off and proceeded toward his destination which was approximately 156 nm to the east. A large slow moving frontal system was positioned over northcentral Texas at the time. The pilot's route of flight was along the southern boundary of the front. Light drizzle, fog, and low ceilings existed along the route of flight. Subsequently, the airplane entered a descent and crashed approximately 63 miles southwest of the destination airport after about 3 hours and 20 minutes of flight. No preimpact part failure or malfunction of the airplane was found, though it was badly damaged during impact. Several local people stated there was low ceilings, fog and drizzle at the time of the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause

CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE.

Full Narrative

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT WAS ADVISED BEFORE DEPARTING ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT THAT VFR FLIGHT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. HE DEPARTED WITHOUT FILING A FLIGHT PLAN. BEFORE REACHING AN INTERMEDIATE STOP, HE OBTAINED AN UPDATED WEATHER BRIEFING FOR THE LOCAL AREA AND HIS FINAL DESTINATION. AFTER REFUELING, HE TOOK OFF AND PROCEEDED TOWARD HIS DESTINATION WHICH WAS APRX 156 NM TO THE EAST. A LARGE SLOW MOVING FRONTAL SYSTEM WAS POSITIONED OVER NORTHCENTRAL TEXAS AT THE TIME. THE PILOT'S ROUTE OF FLIGHT WAS ALONG THE SOUTHERN BOUNDARY OF THE FRONT. LIGHT DRIZZLE, FOG, AND LOW CEILINGS EXISTED ALONG THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A DESCENT & CRASHED APRX 63 MI SOUTHWEST OF THE DESTINATION AIRPORT AFTER ABOUT 3 HRS & 20 MINUTES OF FLIGHT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRPLANE WAS FOUND, THOUGH IT WAS BADLY DAMAGED DURING IMPACT. SEVERAL LOCAL PEOPLE STATED THERE WAS LOW CEILINGS, FOG AND DRIZZLE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:30 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172P
Tail NumberN5253K
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-D2J · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 32 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind180° @ 30 kt
Ceiling100 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data