NTSB Identification: MIA86FA053.
The docket is stored on NTSB microfiche number 30319.
Accident occurred Wednesday, January 01, 1986 in ST. MARYS, GA
Aircraft: CESSNA 172M, registration: N21760
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.DRG A NGT X-COUNTRY FLT, THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT CONTACTED APCH CONTROL & RPRTD HE WAS 'SORT OF LOST IN THE FOG.' HE OBTAINED WX INFO & ELECTED TO DIVERT TO WAYCROSS, GA. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES ON UNEVEN TERRAIN & CRASHED. WITNESSES STATED THAT THEY HEARD THE ACFT CIRCLE TWICE & CRASH. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT OR ENG WAS FOUND. ABOUT 28 MI SOUTH AT JACKSONVILLE, FL, THE 1949 EST WX WAS IN PART: 600' BROKEN, 1500' OVERCAST, VIS 7 MI, WIND FROM 060 DEG AT 12 KTS. WITNESSES RPRTD PATCHY FOG IN THE AREA OF THE ACDNT. TOXICOLOGY CHECKS OF TISSUE FROM THE PLT REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF BENZODIAZEPINE (VALIUM) & PROPOXYPHENE (DARVON). INTERVIEWS WITH THE PLT'S WIFE & AN AVIATION MEDICAL EXAMINER REVEALED THE PLT HAD USED THESE MEDICATIONS FOR ARTHRITIS.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC..INADVERTENT..PILOT IN COMMAND
Contributing Factors
LIGHT CONDITION..DARK NIGHT
Contributing Factors
TERRAIN CONDITION..ROUGH/UNEVEN
Contributing Factors
OBJECT..TREE(S)
Contributing Factors
WEATHER CONDITION..FOG
Contributing Factors
BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED..INADVERTENT..PILOT IN COMMAND
Contributing Factors
DELAYED..PILOT IN COMMAND
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