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Airplane Strikes Mount Washington During Night Ferry Flight (N98438)

Gorham, NH, US

On October 2, 1990, a Cessna 172P (registration N98438) operated by Van Bortel Aircraft, Inc was involved in an aviation accident near Gorham, NH. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE WHILE FLYING OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS, MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, AND PILOT FATIGUE. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

An airplane being ferried to Europe struck Mount Washington at 5,500 feet MSL while en route from Syracuse to Bangor. A witness reported seeing lights and a fireball; the pilot had been awake for 22 hours.

Accident Overview

An airplane on a ferry flight to Europe struck Mount Washington during a night cruise at 5,500 feet mean sea level (MSL). The accident occurred while the airplane was following a great circle route between Syracuse, New York, and Bangor, Maine. The summit of Mount Washington was obscured at the time.

Flight Details

The airplane was equipped with an autopilot and a Loran C navigation system. According to the manufacturer of the Loran C unit, the airplane was within half a mile of its intended course and on the correct heading at the moment of impact.

Witness Observations

A witness located approximately seven miles from the mountain reported seeing the lights of the airplane and a fireball resulting from the impact.

Pilot Information

The pilot had been awake for 22 hours when the accident occurred.

Controlled flight into terrain

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2 Oct 1990 Cessna 172P accident near Gorham, NH?

An airplane being ferried to Europe struck Mount Washington at 5,500 feet MSL while en route from Syracuse to Bangor. A witness reported seeing lights and a fireball; the pilot had been awake for 22 hours.

Were there any fatalities in the 2 Oct 1990 Cessna 172P accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 1 fatality.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2 Oct 1990 involved a Cessna 172P, registration N98438, operated by Van Bortel Aircraft, Inc, at Gorham, NH.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE WHILE FLYING OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS, MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, AND PILOT FATIGUE.

More accident analyses

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X24519. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.