Cessna 182B N54FC

Summary

On 6 February 1999 at about 03:03 local time, a Cessna 182B registered N54FC was involved in an accident near Ozona, Texas, United States. 5 people were on board and 5 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 February 1999 at 03:03

Classification

Accident

Location

Ozona, Texas, United States

Coordinates

30.7003, -101.2004

Aircraft

Cessna 182B

Registration

N54FC

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Midkiff

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

FTW99FA075

5 people died.

the pilot's failure to obtain/maintain clearance from terrain during initial climb after take off. A contributing factor was the dark night.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Two witnesses observed the single-engine airplane take off into the dark night on a bearing of 340 degrees. The wreckage was found the next morning approximately three miles from the departure end of the runway on gently rising terrain at an elevation of 2,978 feet MSL. The elevation of the departure airport was 2,381 feet MSL. The aircraft was found severely fragmented along a 625-foot energy path bearing 360 degrees. All components of the aircraft were found within the energy path. A field examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal evidence of any pre-impact anomalies. Flight control continuity could not be established due to the fragmentation of the airframe. However, the control cables were examined, and each exhibited overload in the segments that were broken. Toxicology tests on the pilot were negative, and no pre-existing medical conditions were found during an autopsy that would have contributed to the accident. The estimated weight and balance for the airplane was within limits.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.