On October 14, 1997, a Cessna 172P (registration N62264) operated by John N. Campbell was involved in an aviation accident near Pittsfield, MA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's poor in-flight decision to continue VFR flight in IFR conditions. Factor's in this accident were the pilot's inadequate pre-flight planning, and fog. 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.
A non-instrument rated private pilot flying in partial VFR conditions encountered IFR conditions, continued using a handheld GPS, struck a tree while descending below clouds, but landed safely.
Incident Overview
A non-instrument rated private pilot was conducting a flight under partial visual flight rules (VFR) when he encountered instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions. The pilot continued the flight using a handheld global positioning system (GPS) receiver for navigation.
Events During Descent
While descending below the cloud layer in an attempt to reach VFR conditions, the airplane struck a tree. The aircraft remained in flight and a successful landing was subsequently made at a nearby airport.
Weather Information
The pilot reported that he did not receive a standard weather briefing prior to the flight. Instead, he obtained weather information by viewing the 'weather channel' on television and listening to a radio broadcast from the National Weather Service.
What happened in the 14 Oct 1997 Cessna 172P accident near Pittsfield, MA?
A non-instrument rated private pilot flying in partial VFR conditions encountered IFR conditions, continued using a handheld GPS, struck a tree while descending below clouds, but landed safely.
Were there any fatalities in the 14 Oct 1997 Cessna 172P accident?
No fatalities were recorded in this accident.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 14 Oct 1997 involved a Cessna 172P, registration N62264, operated by John N. Campbell, at Pittsfield, MA.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The pilot's poor in-flight decision to continue VFR flight in IFR conditions. Factor's in this accident were the pilot's inadequate pre-flight planning, and fog.
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