On November 5, 2006, a Cessna 172S (registration N53443) was involved in an aviation accident near Hominy, OK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's continued cruise flight into adverse weather conditions, and his failure to maintain clearance from terrain. Contributing factors were the dark night conditions, and the low ceilings. 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 crashed a single-engine airplane during a night cross-country flight in instrument meteorological conditions. The wreckage was located nearly 4.5 hours later with no anomalies found.
Accident Overview
A non-instrument rated private pilot undertook a 114-nautical mile cross-country flight to his home station during dark night instrument meteorological conditions. The accident was unwitnessed, and the wreckage was not located for 4 hours and 29 minutes due to instrument flight rule conditions hampering search and rescue operations.
Environmental Conditions
The night of the accident featured a full moon, but an overcast sky and rain reduced visibility. The unpopulated terrain along the route provided little ground illumination. The pilot had accumulated 4.1 hours of night flying experience and 4.0 hours of simulated instrument time.
Impact and Wreckage
The single-engine airplane impacted the ground on a heading of 240 degrees, coming to rest inverted 501 feet from the initial impact point. Ground scars and airframe damage were consistent with the airplane striking the ground in a cruise configuration at a near level flight attitude. The flaps were fully retracted. Flight and engine control continuity was established at the accident site, and no anomalies were found with the airframe or engine that could have prevented normal flight operations.
What happened in the 5 Nov 2006 Cessna 172S accident near Hominy, OK?
A non-instrument rated private pilot crashed a single-engine airplane during a night cross-country flight in instrument meteorological conditions. The wreckage was located nearly 4.5 hours later with no anomalies found.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 5 Nov 2006 involved a Cessna 172S, registration N53443, at Hominy, OK.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The pilot's continued cruise flight into adverse weather conditions, and his failure to maintain clearance from terrain. Contributing factors were the dark night conditions, and the low ceilings.
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