Event CEN10CA100

Factual narrative

The pilot contacted an Automated Flight Service Station for a weather briefing around 0730 on the morning of the flight. At that time he was informed that visual flight rules (VFR) flight was not recommended and that instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) were expected to remain along the route until at least 1200. The briefer stated that the ceiling at the pilot’s destination of the Washington Municipal Airport (AWG), Washington, Iowa, would probably be 2,000 feet overcast at best later in the day. The pilot decided to delay the flight until later in the day. At 1600, the pilot departed Tulsa, Oklahoma, without obtaining another weather briefing. He requested and was receiving flight following during the flight. The pilot reported that while en route he was going to stop for fuel; however, the airport was IMC so he decided to continue to his destination. Upon reaching AWG he determined that the weather was IMC, so he diverted to the Cedar Rapids-Eastern Iowa (CID) Airport, where he requested emergency assistance. The approach controller offered a VFR airport in Minnesota; however, the pilot stated he did not have enough fuel to get there. The pilot stated he had practiced instrument landing system (ILS) approaches during a flight review. The controller then gave the pilot vectors and a frequency for the ILS runway 27 approach. The pilot stated he flew a course of about 280 degrees because of the winds and attempted to maintain the glideslope, but he became confused by the glideslope needle. The airplane contacted the terrain about 2 miles east of the airport. The pilot received minor injuries and was able to call for help using his cell phone. The airplane received substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The non-instrument-rated pilot received a preflight weather briefing and delayed the flight as instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) were forecast for his route of flight until 1200. The briefer stated that the ceiling at the pilot’s destination airport would probably be 2,000 feet overcast at best later in the day. At 1600, the pilot departed without obtaining another weather briefing, and received flight following during the course of the flight. The pilot reported that while en route he was going to stop for fuel; however, the destination airport was IMC so he decided to continue. Upon reaching his destination he discovered that the weather was IMC, so he diverted to a nearby airport, where he requested emergency assistance. The approach controller offered the nearest visual flight rules airport; however, the pilot stated that he did not have enough fuel to get there. The pilot informed the controller that he had practiced instrument landing system (ILS) approaches during a flight review. The controller gave the pilot vectors and a frequency for an ILS approach. The pilot stated that he attempted to fly the glideslope, but that he became confused as to whether he should climb or descend in order to center the glideslope needle. The airplane contacted the terrain about 2 miles east of the airport and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The pilot had a total of 4 hours of instrument flight time. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Ceiling/visibility/precip-Clouds-Effect on operation
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Ceiling/visibility/precip-Fog-Effect on operation
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Planning/preparation-Weather planning-Pilot - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Altitude-Not attained/maintained - C
• — Aircraft-Fluids/misc hardware-Fluids-Fuel-Fluid level
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Ceiling/visibility/precip-Below VFR minima-Decision related to condition
• F Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Experience/qualifications-Total instrument experience-Pilot - F