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NTSB Report
March 23, 1985 · Cessna 182 · N97700
Fairfield, PA
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 23, 1985
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Location
Fairfield, PA
Aircraft
Cessna 182
Tail Number
N97700
Operator
Penn Shadecrafters
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC85LA086
DURING FLT, THE ACFT HAD AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WHILE FLYING IN INSTRUMENT (IFR) CONDITIONS. THE PLT REPORTED THAT ONLY THE ALTIMETER, AIRSPEED INDICATOR & MAG COMPASS WERE OPERATING. HE BECAME SPATIALLY DISORIENTED & THE ACFT ENTERED SEVERAL DIVES & AT LEAST 1 SPIN. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT DESCENDED BELOW THE CLOUDS IN A VALLEY WHERE THE PLT COULD MAINTAIN VISUAL REFERENCES. THE PLT THEN MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON ROUGH/UPHILL TERRAIN WHERE THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED. THE PLT SAID THE SURROUNDING HILLS WERE COVERED WITH CLOUDS. ALSO, HE SAID THAT THE VACUUM PUMP, TURN & BANK INDICATOR, ATTITUDE INDICATOR & STALL WARNING SYS BECAME INOP OR MALFUNCTIONED WHILE HE WAS IN IFR CONDITIONS.
Full Narrative
DURING FLT, THE ACFT HAD AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WHILE FLYING IN INSTRUMENT (IFR) CONDITIONS. THE PLT REPORTED THAT ONLY THE ALTIMETER, AIRSPEED INDICATOR & MAG COMPASS WERE OPERATING. HE BECAME SPATIALLY DISORIENTED & THE ACFT ENTERED SEVERAL DIVES & AT LEAST 1 SPIN. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT DESCENDED BELOW THE CLOUDS IN A VALLEY WHERE THE PLT COULD MAINTAIN VISUAL REFERENCES. THE PLT THEN MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON ROUGH/UPHILL TERRAIN WHERE THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED. THE PLT SAID THE SURROUNDING HILLS WERE COVERED WITH CLOUDS. ALSO, HE SAID THAT THE VACUUM PUMP, TURN & BANK INDICATOR, ATTITUDE INDICATOR & STALL WARNING SYS BECAME INOP OR MALFUNCTIONED WHILE HE WAS IN IFR CONDITIONS.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:30 EST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftCessna 182
Tail NumberN97700
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorPenn Shadecrafters
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-470-U · Reciprocating · 230
Seats4
People & Injuries
Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured1
Total2
Crew 1Age 57 · Third Class
Conditions
ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind360° @ 9 kt
Visibility2 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 400 ft
Temperature / Dew Point36 C / 30 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time14:46
Weather SourceWIT