Cessna 172L N19699

Summary

On 30 July 1988 at about 09:03 local time, a Cessna 172L registered N19699, operated by Stephen A. Yarnell, was involved in an accident near No. Kingstown, Rhode Island, United States. 3 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 July 1988 at 09:03

Classification

Accident

Location

No. Kingstown, Rhode Island, United States

Nearest airport

Providence (PVO)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Cessna 172L

Registration

N19699

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Stephen A. Yarnell

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Wilmington → Block Island

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

NYC88LA199

1 person had minor injuries.

THE FAILURE OF THE BOSTON CENTER CONTROLLER TO ADEQUATELY UNDERSTAND THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S REQUEST AND TO ASSESS THE GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE FLT DEPARTED WILMINGTON, DE, ON AN IFR FLT PLAN EN ROUTE TO BLOCK ISLAND. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, AS HE PASSED THE HAMPTON VOR HE SAW FOG OBSCURING THE GROUND. UPON REACHING THE DESTINATION, BOSTON CENTER CLEARED THE ACFT FOR THE APCH TO BLOCK ISLAND. THE PLT STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO SHOOT THE APCH DUE TO LOW FUEL AND REQUESTED ASSISTANCE TO A CLEAR AREA OR TO AN ILS APCH. BOSTON CENTER VECTORED THE ACFT TO THE GROTON ARPT WHERE THE PLT MADE AT LEAST FOUR ATTEMPTS TO LOCATE THE ARPT. THE ACFT WAS THEN VECTORED TO WESTERLY, WHERE ONCE AGAIN THE ARPT COULD NOT BE LOCATED DUE TO WX. THE ACFT WAS BEING VECTORED TO PROVIDENCE WHEN FUEL EXHAUSTION WAS EXPERIENCED AND THE ACFT WAS DITCHED IN THE NARRAGANSET BAY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.