Casualties unknown

1984-05-05: Cessna 175 (N7261M) — Harris, Harold D. — Imperial, NE

Imperial, NE, US

On May 5, 1984, a Cessna 175 (registration N7261M) operated by Harris, Harold D. was involved in an aviation accident near Imperial, NE. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot inadvertently flew into a thunderstorm, resulting in loss of control due to turbulence. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

While trying to avoid bad weather, a pilot inadvertently flew into a thunderstorm, lost control due to turbulence, and the aircraft entered a steep dive. During recovery, the left door departed. A precautionary road landing was attempted but overshot; during a go-around, the aircraft struck trees and a utility pole guy wire and crashed.

Accident Details

While en route, the pilot attempted to circumnavigate an area of adverse weather. The flight experienced intermittent rain, and the pilot ultimately decided to reverse course. According to the pilot, he inadvertently flew into a thunderstorm and subsequently lost control of the aircraft due to turbulence. The aircraft entered a steep dive; during the pull-out maneuver, the left door detached from the airframe.

Concerned about potential further damage, the pilot elected to make a precautionary landing on a road. However, he overshot the selected landing area. During a go-around, the aircraft collided with trees and a utility pole guy wire, resulting in a crash.

Sequence of Events

The pilot's decision to reverse course came after being in and out of rain. The inadvertent thunderstorm entry led to severe turbulence causing loss of control. The steep dive and subsequent pull-out imposed stresses that caused the left door to separate. Following the door loss, the pilot assessed the situation and chose a road for a precautionary landing due to concerns about other possible damage. The overshoot of the intended landing spot necessitated a go-around, but during the climb-out, the aircraft struck obstacles and crashed.

No further information regarding aircraft type, registration, occupants, or injuries was provided in the source.

Probable cause

The pilot inadvertently flew into a thunderstorm, resulting in loss of control due to turbulence.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001214X39686. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.