Cessna 172L N7604G

Summary

On 25 April 2006 at about 18:00 local time, a Cessna 172L registered N7604G was involved in an accident near Montgomery Twp, Pennsylvania, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 April 2006 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Montgomery Twp, Pennsylvania, United States

Coordinates

39.7336, -77.9703

Aircraft

Cessna 172L

Registration

N7604G

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Frederick → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC06FA104

1 person died.

An impact with mountainous terrain for an undetermined reason.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane descended into an area between two converging mountain ridges known locally as "The Punchbowl," and impacted rising terrain in an almost-level attitude. Weather was clear at the time. There were no mechanical anomalies noted with either the airplane or the engine. The pilot had two previous, possible suicide attempts; however, the circumstances surrounding them were not present at the time of the accident. Family members also stated that the pilot was not depressed, and that he was actively involved in a new hobby. The pilot also had emphysema, with hypoxia at rest. The hypoxia would reasonably be expected to worsen at altitude. The pilot may have had problems with the control of impulsive behaviors, which could have been aggravated by a decreased blood-oxygen supply. The pilot had coronary artery disease; however, its extent would not necessarily have caused any symptoms. The possibility of sudden stroke, seizure, heart attack, or other incapacitating event could not be eliminated by the autopsy, and hypoxia could have increased the likelihood of their occurrence. Although undetermined what, if any, role the pilot's medical conditions played in the accident; it was possible that his psychiatric condition and/or his emphysema were factors.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.