Cessna 172P accident near Gorham, New Hampshire, October 2, 1990
On October 2, 1990 at about 8:50 am local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N98438, was destroyed in an accident near Gorham, New Hampshire. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE WHILE FLYING OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS, MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, AND PILOT FATIGUE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 2, 1990 · about 8:50 am local time
- Place
- Gorham, New Hampshire
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N98438 · no longer on the register · serial 17276292
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING FERRIED TO EUROPE & WAS ON A GREAT CIRCLE ROUTE AT NIGHT BETWEEN SYRACUSE, NY, & BANGOR, ME. THE PLANE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 5500 FT MSL, WHEN IT STRUCK MT WASHINGTON. IT WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTO PILOT & LORAN C. ACCORDING TO THE LORAN MFG, THE AIRPLANE WAS WITHIN 1/2 MILE OF COURSE & ON HEADING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE TOP OF MT WASHINGTON WAS OBSCURED; HOWEVER, A WITNESS 7 MILES AWAY SAW THE LIGHTS OF THE AIRPLANE & A FIREBALL FROM THE IMPACT. THE PILOT HAD BEEN AWAKE FOR 22 HOURS, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,100 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 20, 1989; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Van Bortel Aircraft, INC
The flight
- Departed from: SYR Syracuse NY at 7:30 am
- Destination: BGR Bangor ME
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.