ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 45616
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| Date: | Friday 15 March 2002 |
| Time: | 19:35 |
| Type: |  Cessna 172P |
| Owner/operator: | Swonger Enterprises Inc |
| Registration: | N96811 |
| MSN: | 17276118 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1984 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 10868 hours |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Ocean City, MD -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Stevensville, MD (W29) |
| Ocean City, (OXB) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The airplane was over water, making a night VFR approach to a coastal airport. Witnesses observed it suddenly transition from horizontal flight, to a vertical descent into the ocean. According to a witness flying in the area at the time, the accident airplane went over a "black hole," and he saw "strobe over strobe" before it disappeared. The witness also noted that disorientation around the airport at night was common because of the ocean. The accident occurred on a clear, dark night, with no illumination from the moon. Examination of the airframe, systems, avionics, and engine did not reveal any evidence of a pre-impact mechanical malfunction. Post-accident examination of the wreckage revealed that the left wing leading edge was crushed aft, to the wing spar. The pilot was not instrument-rated, but had received instrument training under a hood in VFR conditions.
Probable Cause: The pilot's spatial disorientation, which resulted in his subsequent loss of control of the airplane. A factor was the dark night, over water visual conditions.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB: https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20020409X00476&key=1
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 28-Oct-2008 00:45 | ASN archive | Added |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:24 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 09-Dec-2017 15:51 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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