Cessna 177RG N2562V

Summary

On 19 September 1997 at about 23:31 local time, a Cessna 177RG registered N2562V, operated by Robert T. Bickel, was involved in an accident near Sebring, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 September 1997 at 23:31

Classification

Accident

Location

Sebring, Florida, United States

Coordinates

27.5099, -81.5496

Aircraft

Cessna 177RG

Registration

N2562V

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Robert T. Bickel

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Orlando → Marathon

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

MIA97FA249

2 people died.

continued flight by the pilot into adverse weather conditions, and his failure to maintain aircraft control, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent until impact in a lake. The adverse weather condition (thunderstorm) was a related factor.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight was operating in an area of isolated thunderstorms. While en route at 6,000 feet, the pilot was cleared to descend to 5,000 feet. He acknowledged the clearance, then there was no further radio contact with the pilot. Shortly thereafter, radar contact was lost. Witnesses heard the aircraft descending rapidly, then it crash into a lake. Also, witnesses reported that rain was falling hard, and the wind was blowing hard over the lake at the time of the crash. Recovery of a large portion of the aircraft from the lake showed all components of the aircraft necessary for flight were on the aircraft at impact. There was evidence that the aircraft impacted in a right wing and nose low attitude. The propeller had damage consistent with rotation at the time of the accident. The pilot had received his instrument rating about 48 days before the accident. He had accumulated about 25 hours of actual instrument flight time and 50 hours of simulated instrument flight time.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.