National Transportation Safety Board Printed on : 7/1/2010 12:54:42 PM

Washington, DC 20594

Brief of Accident

Adopted 07/01/2010

CEN10CA100
File No. 26630 01/17/2010 Cedar Rapids, IA Aircraft Reg No. N8584X Time (Local): 19:50 CST

Make/Model: Cessna / P172D Fatal Serious Minor/None

Engine Make/Model: Cont Motor / O-360-A1A Crew 0 0 1
Aircraft Damage: Substantial Pass 0 0 0
Number of Engines: 1
Operating Certificate(s): None
Type of Flight Operation: Personal
Reg. Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation

Last Depart. Point: Tulsa, OK Condition of Light: Night/Dark

Destination: Washington, IA Weather Info Src: Weather Observation Facility
Airport Proximity: Off Airport/Airstrip Basic Weather: Instrument Conditions
Lowest Ceiling: Indefinite (V V)
Visibility: .50 SM
Wind Dir/Speed: 290 / 010 Kts
Temperature (°C): -2
Precip/Obscuration: Moderate - Freezing - Fog; No Precipitation

Pilot-in-Command Age: 64 Flight Time (Hours)

Certificate(s)/Rating(s) Total All Aircraft: 840

Private; Single-engine Land Last 90 Days: 12
Total Make/Model: 600
Instrument Ratings Total Instrument Time: 4
None

The non-instrument-rated pilot received a preflight weather briefing and delayed the flight as instrument meteorological conditions (IMC)
were forecast for his route of flight until 1200. The briefer stated that the ceiling at the pilot’s destination airport would probably
be 2,000 feet overcast at best later in the day. At 1600, the pilot departed without obtaining another weather briefing, and received
flight following during the course of the flight. The pilot reported that while en route he was going to stop for fuel; however, the
destination airport was IMC so he decided to continue. Upon reaching his destination he discovered that the weather was IMC, so he
diverted to a nearby airport, where he requested emergency assistance. The approach controller offered the nearest visual flight rules
airport; however, the pilot stated that he did not have enough fuel to get there. The pilot informed the controller that he had practiced
instrument landing system (ILS) approaches during a flight review. The controller gave the pilot vectors and a frequency for an ILS
approach. The pilot stated that he attempted to fly the glideslope, but that he became confused as to whether he should climb or descend
in order to center the glideslope needle. The airplane contacted the terrain about 2 miles east of the airport and sustained substantial
damage to the fuselage and wings. The pilot had a total of 4 hours of instrument flight time.
Updated at Jul 1 2010 8:59AM
 Brief of Accident (Continued)

CEN10CA100
File No. 26630 01/17/2010 Cedar Rapids, IA Aircraft Reg No. N8584X Time (Local): 19:50 CST

OCCURRENCES

Enroute - VFR encounter with IMC

Approach-IFR final approach - Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)

FINDINGS

Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Ceiling/visibility/precip-Clouds-Effect on operation

Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Ceiling/visibility/precip-Fog-Effect on operation
Personnel issues-Task performance-Planning/preparation-Weather planning-Pilot - C
Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Altitude-Not attained/maintained - C
Aircraft-Fluids/misc hardware-Fluids-Fuel-Fluid level
Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Ceiling/visibility/precip-Below VFR minima-Decision related to condition
Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Experience/qualifications-Total instrument experience-Pilot - F

Findings Legend: (C) = Cause, (F) = Factor

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows.
The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions and his failure to maintain a proper glidepath during the
approach. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of instrument proficiency.