VFR into IMC · NTSB NYC08FA324
CESSNA 402 — Vineyard Haven, MA
| Date | September 27, 2008 |
| Location | Vineyard Haven, MA |
| Aircraft | CESSNA 402 |
| Purpose of flight | Positioning |
| Conditions | Night · Instrument Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Uncontrolled descent Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) |
| Pilot age | 61 |
| Pilot total time | 16,746 hrs · High time |
| Time in type | 2,330 hrs |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-(general)-Not attained/maintained - C
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Light condition-Dark-Not specified
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Ceiling/visibility/precip-Clouds-Not specified
- Personnel issues-Psychological-Perception/orientation/illusio-Spatial disorientation-Pilot - C
What happened
The pilot of the multiengine airplane, operated by a regional airline, was conducting a positioning flight in night instrument meteorological conditions. After takeoff, the airplane made a slight left turn before making a right turn that continued until radar contact was lost. The airplane reached a maximum altitude of 700 feet before impacting terrain about 3 miles northwest of the departure airport. Postaccident examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact failures. The weather reported at the airport, about the time of the accident, included a visibility of 5 statute miles in light rain and mist and an overcast ceiling at 400 feet. Analysis of the radar and weather data indicated that, with the flight accelerating and turning just after having entered clouds, the pilot likely experienced spatial disorientation.