Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 182 near Cassville, MO — 2008-08-10

Final reportDFW08FA204
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Date
2008-08-10
Location
Cassville, MO, USA
Airport
MO00
Aircraft
CESSNA 182
Registration
N214MT
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane after an inadvertent encounter with instrument meteorological conditions resulting in the subsequent impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's self-induced pressure to conduct the flight.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the accident was the pilot's self-induced pressure to conduct the flight.

NTSB narrative

Prior to the flight, the non-instrument rated private pilot had three contacts with the pre-flight weather briefer at the automated flight Service Station (AFSS) for a planned visual flight rules (VFR) return flight to his home. According to statements made to a friend, the pilot expected the weather conditions to quickly improve once he got approximately 30 miles from the departure airport. The pilot had told several persons that he intended to make an important business flight in that airplane to another location on the following day. After departure, the airplane encountered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) in an area of rising terrain. A witness near the accident scene saw the airplane come out of the bottom of overcast clouds in a nose down dive. The airplane impacted terrain and was destroyed by a post-impact fire. No pre-crash anomalies were noted with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
VFR into IMC
First missed decision gate
Pilot should have canceled the flight due to IMC conditions.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents23

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