Cessna 182F accident near Princeton, West Virginia, March 14, 1991
On March 14, 1991 at about 9:55 pm local time, a Cessna 182F, registered N3529Y, was destroyed in an accident near Princeton, West Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE INFLIGHT DECISION WHICH RESULTED IN AIRFRAME ICING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 14, 1991 · about 9:55 pm local time
- Place
- Princeton, West Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182F · all 182Fs on the register
- Registration
- N3529Y · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS ON AN ILS APPROACH WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED AIRFRAME ICING. THE PILOT WAS ADVISED EARLIER OF ICING CONDITIONS IN THE AREA, SO HE DELAYED HIS DESCENT TO MINIMIZE EXPOSURE TO THE CONDITIONS. DURING THE APPROACH SOME OF HIS PASSENGERS NOTICED ICE ACCRETION ON THE AIRFRAME. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT SOON AFTERWARDS, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO ROLL FROM LEFT TO RIGHT WITH A SIMULTANEOUS LOSS OF AIRSPEED, DESPITE THE ENGINE OPERATING THE ENTIRE TIME. HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED BELOW THE CLOUDS OVER A RESIDENTIAL AREA. THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY STRUCK TWO HOUSES, COMING TO A STOP WHEN IT STRUCK THE SECOND HOUSE. THE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,600 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CAE Columbia SC at 7:30 pm
- Destination: BLF Bluefield VA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from BLF, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.