Cessna 172M accident near Perham, Maine, November 23, 1990
On November 23, 1990 at about 2:20 am local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N9086H, was destroyed in an accident near Perham, Maine. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT INITIATING FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCUMULATION OF AIRFRAME ICE AND A FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. THE CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE EXISTING ICING CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 23, 1990 · about 2:20 am local time
- Place
- Perham, Maine
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N9086H · no longer on the register · serial 17265933
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS TOLD OF FORECAST ICING CONDITIONS DURING TWO WEATHER BRIEFINGS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. THE PILOT ARRIVED AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT AND MADE 2 VOR APPROACHS. DURING THE APPROACHES THE FREEZING LEVEL WAS AT THE SURFACE AND THERE WAS A LIGHT DRIZZLE. AFTER THE SECOND MISSED APPROACH THE PILOT REQUESTED VECTORS BACK TO HIS ORIGINATING AIRPORT. THE CONTROLLER SAID WHEN LAST SEEN ON RADAR, THE AIRPLANE HAD DESCENDED FROM 2000 FEET TO 1200 FEET IN ABOUT 8 SECONDS. WHEN FOUND THE AIRPLANE HAD LARGE SURFACE AREAS COVERED WITH 1/8' ICE. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ICE ON THE SURROUNDING TERRAIN.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 251 hours in all; 238 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-F2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air National Guard Aero INC
The flight
- Departed from: BGN Bangor ME
- Destination: PQI Presque Isle ME
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 170° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 600 ft; scat at 300 ft
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 am from PQI, 14 miles away
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.