Cessna 172N N2771J

Summary

On 10 October 2004 at about 04:35 local time, a Cessna 172N registered N2771J was involved in an accident near Germantown, New York, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 October 2004 at 04:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Germantown, New York, United States

Coordinates

42.1183, -73.8408

Aircraft

Cessna 172N

Registration

N2771J

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Islip → Johnstown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

NYC05FA001

2 people died.

The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision which led to VFR flight into IMC and his loss of aircraft control. Factors were night and cloud conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Prior to departing on a round-trip flight, the non-instrument rated pilot telephoned a flight service station and received a standard weather briefing. The briefing included information about marginal VFR conditions for the proposed return trip; including increased cloud cover and scattered showers. VFR flight was not recommended for the return trip. After completing the first leg of the trip, the pilot again telephoned the flight service station. The second briefing included information about a slow moving cool front with poorer weather conditions north and west of the planned route, with the possibility of a shower or two along the route. At the time, one of the airports near the route was reporting marginal VFR conditions. The return flight was conducted at night, and proceeded uneventfully for approximately two-thirds of the planned flight. The pilot was receiving flight following, and asked the controller how high the clouds were, so that he could get out of them. The airplane then descended rapidly in a left turn and struck trees.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.