Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 172S near Goodland, FL — 2008-12-18

Final reportERA09FA092
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Date
2008-12-18
Location
Goodland, FL, USA
Aircraft
CESSNA 172S
Registration
N967SP
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Maneuvering

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident was the night light conditions.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the accident was the night light conditions.

NTSB narrative

The pilot departed at night in visual meteorological conditions to work on night recurrence training and was flying in an area over water with limited visual references. Witnesses near the accident site reported hearing the sound of an airplane engine that increased in rpm. Some witnesses observed the airplane in a "nose-dive" toward the water. The airplane crashed into about 5 feet of water on a tidal mud-flat, about 16 miles south-southeast of the departure airport. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact malfunctions or anomalies. The pilot had accumulated about 820 hours of total flight experience and had flown about 20 hours during the 2 years preceding the accident. He did not possess an instrument rating. A law enforcement helicopter pilot who responded to the accident site reported that it was very dark and believed that lack of visual cues with the naked eye would have required navigation via aircraft instrumentation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Spatial disorientation
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have chosen not to fly at night without instrument rating.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 16 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents16

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