On July 22, 1992, a Cessna 172P (registration N52201) operated by Boeing Employees Flying Ass'n was involved in an aviation accident near Kingston, WA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE PILOT'S ATTEMPT TO CONDUCT VFR FLIGHT IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. FACTORS INCLUDE FOG AND LOW CEILINGS. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A Cessna 172 crashed into Puget Sound while flying in dense fog with visibility as low as one-eighth mile. Witnesses saw the left wingtip strike the water before the aircraft sank immediately.
What happened
The pilot of a Cessna 172 departed Renton Airport for a local flight. Witnesses observed the aircraft flying in foggy conditions with as little as one-eighth mile visibility. The aircraft passed over a witness's boat and was observed maneuvering in a turn to the left. The left wingtip caught in the water and the aircraft crashed, sinking immediately.
The investigation
The source text does not provide specific investigative findings or mechanical examinations beyond the immediate sequence of events observed by witnesses.
Findings
The accident occurred during low-visibility conditions due to fog. The pilot was maneuvering in a turn to the left when the left wingtip contacted the water surface, leading to the immediate sinking of the aircraft.
What happened in the 22 Jul 1992 Cessna 172P accident near Kingston, WA?
A Cessna 172 crashed into Puget Sound while flying in dense fog with visibility as low as one-eighth mile. Witnesses saw the left wingtip strike the water before the aircraft sank immediately.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 22 Jul 1992 involved a Cessna 172P, registration N52201, operated by Boeing Employees Flying Ass'n, at Kingston, WA.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
THE PILOT'S ATTEMPT TO CONDUCT VFR FLIGHT IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. FACTORS INCLUDE FOG AND LOW CEILINGS.
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