Cessna 182F N3529Y

Summary

On 14 March 1991 at about 21:55 local time, a Cessna 182F registered N3529Y, operated by Thomas O. Metcalfe, JR., was involved in an accident near Princeton, West Virginia, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 March 1991 at 21:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Princeton, West Virginia, United States

Coordinates

37.3605, -81.1002

Aircraft

Cessna 182F

Registration

N3529Y

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Thomas O. Metcalfe, JR.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Columbia → Bluefield

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

BFO91FA031

4 people were seriously injured.

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE INFLIGHT DECISION WHICH RESULTED IN AIRFRAME ICING.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT WAS ON AN ILS APPROACH WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED AIRFRAME ICING. THE PILOT WAS ADVISED EARLIER OF ICING CONDITIONS IN THE AREA, SO HE DELAYED HIS DESCENT TO MINIMIZE EXPOSURE TO THE CONDITIONS. DURING THE APPROACH SOME OF HIS PASSENGERS NOTICED ICE ACCRETION ON THE AIRFRAME. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT SOON AFTERWARDS, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO ROLL FROM LEFT TO RIGHT WITH A SIMULTANEOUS LOSS OF AIRSPEED, DESPITE THE ENGINE OPERATING THE ENTIRE TIME. HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED BELOW THE CLOUDS OVER A RESIDENTIAL AREA. THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY STRUCK TWO HOUSES, COMING TO A STOP WHEN IT STRUCK THE SECOND HOUSE. THE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.