Cessna 177A accident near North Vernon, IN
On January 22, 2012, a Cessna 177A (airplane) was involved in an accident near North Vernon, IN. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- January 22, 2012
- Place
- North Vernon, IN
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177A · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 38.896°N, 85.556°W
- NTSB ID
- 20120124X10943
Official records · CEN12FA143
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn January 21, 2012, at 2041 eastern standard time, a Cessna 177A single-engine airplane, N3435T, sustained substantial damage when it impacted wooded terrain near North Vernon, Indiana. The private pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and visual flight rules (VFR) flight following services were provided for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight departed Lake in the Hills Airport (3CK), Lake in the Hills, Illinois, approximately 1830 central standard time, and was destined for the Madison Municipal Airport (IMS), Madison, Indiana. Air traffic control information revealed the pilot requested VFR flight following near the Boiler VHF Omnidirectional Range/Tactical Aircraft Control (VORTAC), Lafayette, Indiana, at an altitude of 7,800 feet mean sea level (msl). At 2036, the pilot was instructed to contact the Louisville air route traffic control center, which the pilot acknowledged. No further communications were received from the pilot. Radar data showed the airplane in a gradual descent from 7,800 feet msl to 2,800 feet msl, before radar contact was lost approximately 14 miles northwest of IMS. The airplane impacted wooded terrain adjacent to a residence. The homeowner reported he heard a low flying airplane, looked out the back window of his house, and noticed a small fire in the woods behind his residence. The homeowner called 911 and rescue efforts commenced. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONThe pilot held a private pilot cert
Probable cause
The non-instrument-rated pilot's decision to fly into known instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the pilot's spatial disorientation and loss of airplane control.
More accidents in IN
- Pilatus PC-12, May 25, 2011
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Browse: Indiana · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
