What happened
On December 7, 2009, a Cessna 172S, registration N5269X, crashed into Lake Russell near Kissimmee, Florida. The flight departed from Florida Gateway Airport (ISM) for an intended destination of Ft. Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE). The flight was conducted under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) following a request for a special VFR clearance from air traffic control.
At approximately 2206, the pilot requested special VFR clearance. Air traffic control issued the clearance, instructing the pilot to maintain VFR at or below 1,500 feet. The aircraft departed the airport at 2213. At 2222, the pilot acknowledged an "on course" clearance, which was the final communication received from the aircraft. Radar tracking showed the airplane made a slight left turn before executing a 100-degree right turn away from the intended track. At 2223, radar indicated the aircraft was at 2,400 feet altitude; approximately 12 seconds later, radar showed the aircraft at 0 feet altitude. The aircraft impacted the water, resulting in 4 fatal injuries.
The investigation
An examination of the wreckage recovered from the six-foot-deep lake revealed the engine was embedded four feet into the lake floor, consistent with a nose-down impact. The investigation found that the right wing exhibited leading edge crush damage, and the left wing sustained damage consistent with impact from the main landing gear. The passenger compartment showed significant compression and fracture damage.
Mechanical examinations of the Cessna 172S engine, structure, flight controls, and aircraft systems revealed no malfunctions prior to the impact. Both vacuum pumps were found to have rotors that were fractured consistent with rotation at the time of impact. The pilot's logbook showed 150.7 total flight hours, with no recorded actual instrument flight time.
Findings
- The pilot was not instrument rated.
- The flight occurred at night under instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).
- The dark surface of the water in an unlit area provided limited external visual references.
- The pilot's decision to fly into IMC led to spatial disorientation and loss of control.