7) TERRAIN COLLISION, C-FIT

Cessna 182 | N2198G

July 7th, 2024 | Rutherfordton, North Carolina

Accident Location

  • City: Rutherfordton
  • State: North Carolina
  • Latitude: 35.5294
  • Longitude: -81.915802
  • Airport ID:

Aircraft Info

  • N Number: N2198G
  • Make: Cessna
  • Model: 182
  • Aircraft Category: Aircraft Single Engine Land
  • Amateur Built: No

Pilot Info

  • PIC Name: Plummer, Adam
  • Gender: Male
  • Pilot Age: 59
  • Pilot Hours:
  • Flight School: No
  • Instructional Flight: No
  • Pilot Certification: Commercial Pilot
  • IFR Rating: Yes
  • Pilot Error: Yes
  • Pilot Medical: 2nd Class Medical
  • Pilot Incapacitation: No

Analysis

  • Date: July 7th, 2024
  • Time: 9:10 PM Local Time
  • Day / Night: Day
  • VMC / IMC: VMC
  • Phase Of Flight: Enroute
  • Total People Onboard: 3
  • PIC Fatality: 1
  • PAX Fatalities: 2
  • Ground Fatalities: 0
  • Total Fatalities: 3
  • NTSB No: ERA24FA294
  • NTSB Travel: Unknown
  • AQP Classification: 7) TERRAIN COLLISION, C-FIT

Probable Cause

DTSB: The DTSB determines the Probable Cause of this accident to be Pilot Error, in that the pilot elected to takeoff on the repositioning night flight over known hazardous terrain, and during a period of reduced mountain obscuration due to rain and fog in the area. Enroute, the flight likely encounter inadvertent IMC conditions and the pilot lowered the nose in order to attempt to to re acquire visual conditions, whereupon the aircraft struck terrain in a wings level descending attitude.

NTSB: NONE

Recommendation

DTSB: The DTSB recommends that all pilots of all aircraft pick one: Night. Terrain. Ice. IMC. In many cases, pick none. This pilot chose to risk flight in 3 of the four, Night, Terrain, and IMC conditions, and flew directly into deadly terrain. Three lives lost due to this pilot attempting this night flight when other options were readily available.

NTSB: NONE

DISCLAIMER: All data and Probable Cause listings are “Probable” only. They are based on opinion and educated speculation, and are for educational purposes only. They may contain incorrect information and are subject to change as new information becomes available.