VFR into IMC · NTSB CEN09FA603
CESSNA 182Q — Houma, LA
| Date | September 24, 2009 |
| Location | Houma, LA |
| Aircraft | CESSNA 182Q |
| Purpose of flight | Aerial Observation |
| Conditions | Day · Instrument Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Initial climb Loss of visual reference |
| Pilot age | 61 |
| Pilot total time | 19,949 hrs · High time |
| Time in type | 11,000 hrs |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Ceiling/visibility/precip-Below VFR minima-Decision related to condition - C
- Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot - C
What happened
The non-instrument rated commercial pilot requested and received a Special visual flight rules (SVFR) clearance to take off. Weather was below VFR minimums with a reported ceiling of 300 feet and seven miles visibility, and witnesses reported fog in the area. The pilot’s last radio transmission occurred at 0605 and the wreckage was located one mile south of the runway at 1225. No evidence of an airplane malfunction was found during postaccident wreckage examination and airplane wreckage and impact scars were indicative of a loss of airplane control prior to impact. The airplane was not equipped to fly in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). The pilot's lack of instrument flight certification combined with the poor weather conditions were conducive to spatial disorientation. Toxicology results were positive for ethanol. Postaccident conditions were conducive to post-mortem ethanol production in the pilot.