Cessna 172K accident near Savannah, GA
On November 18, 2012, a Cessna 172K (airplane) was involved in an accident near Savannah, GA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- November 18, 2012
- Place
- Savannah, GA
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 31.935°N, 81.196°W
- NTSB ID
- 20121119X04932
Official records · ERA13FA062
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- ATC Transcripts of Voice Communications: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- ATC 3 - FAA Summary of Post-Accident SAR Support Actions: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- ATC 3 - Extracted SAV Radar Data for N78304: Document (TXT), on ntsb.gov
- ATC 3 - SAR Reference Locations: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- ATC 3 - ATC Radar Study: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On November 18, 2012, about 1855 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172K, N78304, was substantially damaged following a loss of aircraft control and collision with terrain during approach to Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV), Savannah, Georgia. The private pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was registered to a private individual and was operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. Night, instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed. The local flight originated at Causey Airport (2A5), Liberty, North Carolina, about 1642. Prior to the flight, the pilot filed an IFR flight plan and obtained a weather briefing through the Direct User Access Terminal Service (DUATS). The flight departed 2A5 and the pilot checked in with Greensboro South Radar (SR) controller at 1643. At 1646, the pilot was issued an IFR clearance to SAV. About 1718, the Florence, South Carolina approach controller issued a heading of 180 degrees after noticing the pilot executing a turn of about 90 degrees. The pilot later stated that the turn was due to weather conditions. About 1827, the pilot contacted the Savannah approach controller at 4,000 feet above mean sea level (msl) and was told to expect the instrument landing system (ILS) approach to runway 1. From 1833 until 1851, the pilot was issued seven vectors. They were, in chronological order, 180, 200, 210, 230, 250, 260, and 270 degrees. At 1852, the controller informed the pilot that he was four miles from MIZLU, was issu
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control while operating in night, instrument meteorological conditions, due to spatial disorientation.
More accidents in GA
- Embraer EMB-120RT, Apr 5, 1991
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Browse: Georgia · 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.
