Cessna T182T N53538

Summary

On 20 June 2005 at about 15:30 local time, a Cessna T182T registered N53538, operated by Cleghorn Avaition Inc, was involved in an accident near Naples, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 June 2005 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Naples, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Naples Muni (APF)

Coordinates

25.5167, -81.6333

Aircraft

Cessna T182T

Registration

N53538

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Cleghorn Avaition Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Naples → Key West

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL05LA105

1 person died.

The pilot continued flight into known thunderstorm activity that resulted in the loss of control and the subsequent collision with water. A factor was the controller's failure to provide the pilot with convective intensity.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight departed Naples Municipal Airport on a cross-country flight to Key West International Airport. The pilot was cleared to 5000 feet by Fort Myers Approach and instructed to contact Miami air traffic control center. The controller transmitted alerts for convective SIGMETs in the vicinity of the flight. The controller cleared the pilot to descend to 4,000 feet and issued the Key West altimeter setting. The pilot requested direct Key West and stated that he believed he could stay outside the warning areas. The controller approved the pilot's request direct Key West, but again told the pilot that if he needed to deviate for weather he could, however, the controller did not provide the pilot with available convective intensity level information. The controller made several attempts to reestablish contact with the pilot and was unsuccessful. According to recorded radar data, the airplane entered an area of heavy thunderstorms. Review of radar data revealed that the airplane disappeared from radar coverage approximately 18 miles south of Marco Island, Florida. During the search and rescue debris was located; it consisted of a passenger-briefing card, wheel assembly, seat back, and oxygen bottle, however, the main wreckage was not located. The FAA order 7110.65, "Air Traffic Control," paragraph 2-6-4, "Weather and Chaff Services," states: 2. Issue the level of echo intensity when that information is available.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.