Flight History
On February 18, 2010, at approximately 1847 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172RG, registration N9771B, struck trees and terrain while approaching to land on runway 25 at Ohio University Airport-Snyder Field (UNI), Albany, Ohio. The flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91 in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was filed. The private pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. The flight originated from Capital City Airport (CXY), Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, with an intended destination of Clermont County Airport (I69), Batavia, Ohio, but diverted to UNI.
The pilot contacted the Raleigh Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) at 1038 and received a weather briefing for a proposed VFR flight to I69. The briefer informed the pilot of an AIRMET for instrument meteorological conditions, moderate turbulence, and moderate icing along the route. The pilot indicated he could fly under IFR if necessary. At 1331, the pilot contacted Washington AFSS and was advised that VFR was not recommended due to IMC along the route; the pilot again stated he could fly IFR.
At 1626, while in flight at 10,400 feet mean sea level (msl) in VFR conditions above clouds, the pilot contacted Washington AFSS for updated weather. At 1803, the pilot established contact with Indianapolis ARTCC, reporting VFR at 10,000 feet msl. The pilot expressed concern about descending under VFR and later, at 1817, requested a descent to 2,000 feet, stating he could not maintain VFR. The controller issued an IFR clearance, and the pilot began descent at 1825.
At 1829, the pilot reported light rime ice; at 1831, he noted the ice accumulation rate was increasing. At 1837, the pilot requested radar vectors to UNI, citing the ice accumulation rate as the reason for diversion. Communication was temporarily lost from 1841 to 1844 due to the pilot inadvertently selecting the wrong frequency. After re-establishing contact, the controller cleared the pilot for the ILS runway 25 approach at UNI. At 1845, the pilot reported the airport in sight and cancelled IFR. No further communications were received. The airplane impacted trees and terrain about 0.25 miles north of UNI.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating, issued August 23, 2009, and a third-class medical certificate issued January 9, 2009. He did not hold an instrument rating. FAA records showed the pilot previously held an airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate, which he surrendered on August 20, 2007, in conjunction with an Emergency Order of Revocation for operating as pilot in command on 24 flights while aware that his medical certificate applications had been denied. After surrendering the ATP, he obtained a private pilot certificate. The pilot listed 1,582 hours of flight experience, including 127 hours of instrument experience, on his private pilot application.
Aircraft Information
The airplane was a 1981 Cessna 172RG, serial number 172RG1025, a single-engine, high-wing monoplane with retractable tricycle landing gear, powered by a 180-horsepower Lycoming O-360-F1A6 engine. It was not equipped or approved for flight in icing conditions.
Meteorological Information
At 1840, the recorded weather at UNI was: wind 220 degrees at 8 knots; visibility 7 statute miles; broken clouds at 1,600 feet above ground level (agl); overcast clouds at 2,100 feet agl; temperature 0°C; dew point -3°C; altimeter 30.02 inches of mercury.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane came to rest in a tree line in a nose-low, left-wing-low attitude. The aft fuselage was bent downward and partially separated from the forward fuselage at the aft end of the cabin. The fuselage was buckled at the leading edge of the tail surfaces, with the tail surfaces twisted down and to the left. The right wing was predominantly intact with tree impact damage to the leading edge; the left wing was buckled upward outboard of the wing strut attachment. All flight control surfaces remained attached. Postaccident examination revealed no pre-impact anomalies.