Ryan NAVION NA-4 N1598V

Summary

On 25 March 1988 at about 18:00 local time, a Ryan NAVION NA-4 registered N1598V, operated by Michael K Newell, was involved in an accident near Fancy Gap, Virginia, 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

25 March 1988 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Fancy Gap, Virginia, United States

Coordinates

36.6594, -80.6991

Aircraft

Ryan NAVION NA-4

Registration

N1598V

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Michael K Newell

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Gallipolis → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

BFO88FA031

2 people died.

THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN VISUAL CONTACT AND CLEARANCE WITH RISING TERRAIN AFTER VFR FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED IMC.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT WAS ON A TRIP THAT ORIGINATED IN THASTING, MI. THIS FLIGHT WAS THE SECOND LEG OF THE TRIP AFTER AN OVERNIGHT STOP AT GALLIPOLIS, OH. THERE WAS NO RECORD THAT THE PLT RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING BEFORE HE DEPARTED VFR FROM GALLIPOLIS AT AN UNDETERMINED TIME. THE ACFT WENT ABOUT 130 MILES WHEN WITNESSES SAW THE ACFT FLYING SOUTH AT LOW ALTITUDE OVER A HIGHWAY IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. WITNESSES SAID THERE WAS A LOW CEILING, FOG AND LOW VISIBILITY. A WITNESS SAID THE CEILING WAS ABOUT 300 FT AND THE VISIBILITY WAS LESS THAN A MILE. SOON AFTERWARDS THE ACFT REVERSED COURSE AND COLLIDED WITH RISING TERRAIN AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 3200 FT MSL. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THE AUTOPSY DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF PLT INCAPACITATION OR IMPAIRMENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.