On August 8, 1992, a Cessna 340 (registration N194S) operated by Marketplace America, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Falmouth, KY. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE IMPROPER DECISION BY THE NON-INSTRUMENT-RATED PILOT TO ATTEMPT VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS RESULTING IN A LOSS OF AIRPLANE CONTROL AND SUBSEQUENT INADVERTENT SPIRAL AND COLLISION WITH THE GROUND. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot with 142 total hours and no instrument rating lost radar and radio contact while cruising at 16,500 ft at night; radar showed a left descending turn before impact.
Flight Details
The airplane was cruising at 16,500 feet at night when radar and radio contact were lost. The pilot made no distress radio calls. Recorded radar data indicated the airplane entered a left descending turn. Other airplanes in the area were deviating around weather.
Weather and Witnesses
Ground witnesses reported hearing the airplane prior to impact and reported rain at the time.
Pilot Background
The pilot began flight lessons in March and received a multi-engine rating in June. He had accumulated a total of 142 hours of flight time, including 25 hours in the accident make and model and 9 hours of total night flying. The pilot was not instrument rated.
Frequently asked questions
What happened in the 8 Aug 1992 Cessna 340 accident near Falmouth, KY?
A pilot with 142 total hours and no instrument rating lost radar and radio contact while cruising at 16,500 ft at night; radar showed a left descending turn before impact.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 8 Aug 1992 involved a Cessna 340, registration N194S, operated by Marketplace America, Inc., at Falmouth, KY.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
THE IMPROPER DECISION BY THE NON-INSTRUMENT-RATED PILOT TO ATTEMPT VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS RESULTING IN A LOSS OF AIRPLANE CONTROL AND SUBSEQUENT INADVERTENT SPIRAL AND COLLISION WITH THE GROUND. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE; THE…
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