Summary
On March 31, 2003, a Cessna 172P (CGIKO) was involved in an incident near Shenandoah, VA. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's inadvertent encounter with snow showers. Factors were the snow and the unsuitable landing area.
On March 31, 2003, about 1345 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172P, Canadian registry C-GIKO, was substantially damaged during a precautionary landing near Shenandoah, Virginia. The foreign certificated pilot and passenger were not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight departed Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR), Syracuse, New York; destined for Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO), Greensboro, North Carolina.
The non-instrument rated pilot reported that while in cruise flight at 4,500 feet msl, he encountered snow showers.
This incident is documented in NTSB report NYC03LA076. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft CGIKO.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's inadvertent encounter with snow showers. Factors were the snow and the unsuitable landing area.
Aircraft Information
Analysis
On March 31, 2003, about 1345 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172P, Canadian registry C-GIKO, was substantially damaged during a precautionary landing near Shenandoah, Virginia. The foreign certificated pilot and passenger were not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight departed Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR), Syracuse, New York; destined for Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO), Greensboro, North Carolina.
The non-instrument rated pilot reported that while in cruise flight at 4,500 feet msl, he encountered snow showers. The pilot attempted to divert to Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport (SHD), Shenandoah, Virginia; but could not locate the airport. The forward visibility continued to decrease, and the pilot performed a precautionary landing to a field. During the landing, the landing gear struck mud, and the airplane came to rest inverted.
Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed damage to the nose gear, propeller, both wings, and the vertical stabilizer.
SHD was located about 23 nautical miles southwest of the accident site. The reported weather at SHD at 1340 was: wind from 270 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 21 knots; visibility 10 statute miles, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet; temperature 43 degrees F, dew point 27 degrees F; altimeter 30.06 inches Hg. However, the pilot reported the visibility as "0" near the accident site.
Review of communications between the pilot and the Buffalo Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) revealed that the pilot telephoned the facility about 0925. The pilot filed a VFR flight plan from SYR to GSO, and requested a weather briefing.
The AFSS specialist provided a standard weather briefing, which included a forecast for showers during early afternoon in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania area. However, the briefing did not include any forecasted snow showers for the Shenandoah, Virginia area.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# NYC03LA076