Cessna 320F accident near Goshen, Indiana, February 9, 1994
On February 9, 1994 at about 1:05 am local time, a Cessna 320F, registered N618X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Goshen, Indiana (Goshen Municipal airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot-in-command's continued operation with known deficiencies in equipment. Factors were ice on the windshield and the pilot-in-commands visual outlook not possible.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 9, 1994 · about 1:05 am local time
- Place
- Goshen, Indiana · Goshen Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 320F · all 320Fs on the register
- Registration
- N618X · no longer on the register · serial 320F-0026
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE BROKE OUT OF THE CLOUDS ON THE VOR APPROACH TO RUNWAY 9 WITH THE WINDSHIELD COVERED BY ICE WHICH LIMITED THE FORWARD VISIBILITY. THE PILOT ELECTED TO CONTINUE THE APPROACH FOR LANDING; HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO ACQUIRE A VISUAL SIGHTING OF THE RUNWAY OR RUNWAY LIGHTS. THE PILOT-RATED PASSENGER REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED BELOW MDA. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE TERRAIN 1/2 MI WEST OF AND 200 FT RIGHT OF THE CENTER LINE OF RUNWAY 9. ICE WAS NOTED ON THE LEADING EDGE OF THE VERTICAL STABILIZER THE DAY AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,592 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,813 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 3, 1993; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-B2 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: GGG Longview TX
- Destination: GSH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 9, 5,001 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 060° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 600 ft
- Temperature: 10°F (-12°C), dew point 7°F (-14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.