19740830037639A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Cessna 172M · Saltville, VA · August 30, 1974

Date: August 30, 1974 · 22:30 local
Place: Saltville, VA
Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N5142R
NTSB investigation: NTSBMIA75AM018
Reported as: Cessna 172M
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 3
Pilot’s flight hours: 40 total

N5142RRegistration cancelled Jun 2, 2004 · Cessna 172MS/N 17263359 · Built 1974 Airframe modelCessna 172M Engine modelLycoming 0-320 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) The airplane was destroyed when it collided with beartown mountain, near Saltville, Virginia. Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated at athens/ben epps airport (ahn), athens, Georgia, destined for the yeager airport (crw), charleston, west Virginia. No flight plan was filed for the flight. The airplane was reported missing on or about September 2, 1974. In December 1975, hunters discovered the airplane and its occupants and a memorial service was held for the victims; however, the federal aviation administration (FAA) and the safety board were not advised of the discovery. On October 10, 2006, a hiker advised the safety board of the location of the wreckage. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single engine land. His certificate was issued 1 week priort to the accident on August 23, 1974. He did not possess an instrument rating.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH BEARTOWN MOUNTAIN, NEAR SALTVILLE, VIRGINIA. NIGHT INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE PERSONAL FLIGHT THAT ORIGINATED AT ATHENS/BEN EPPS AIRPORT (AHN), ATHENS, GEORGIA, DESTINED FOR THE YEAGER AIRPORT (CRW), CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE FLIGHT. THE AIRPLANE WAS REPORTED MISSING ON OR ABOUT SEPTEMBER 2, 1974. IN DECEMBER 1975, HUNTERS DISCOVERED THE AIRPLANE AND ITS OCCUPANTS AND A MEMORIAL SERVICE WAS HELD FOR THE VICTIMS; HOWEVER, THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) AND THE SAFETY BOARD WERE NOT ADVISED OF THE DISCOVERY. ON OCTOBER 10, 2006, A HIKER ADVISED THE SAFETY BOARD OF THE LOCATION OF THE WRECKAGE. THE PILOT HELD A PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE WITH A RATING FOR AIRPLANE SINGLE ENGINE LAND. HIS CERTIFICATE WAS ISSUED 1 WEEK PRIORT TO THE ACCIDENT ON AUGUST 23, 1974. HE DID NOT POSSESS AN INSTRUMENT RATING.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB MIA75AM018Accident · 3 fatalClosedMissing AircraftAug 30, 1974 · Destroyed

Other reports on N5142R · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19740904044629AVASep 4, 1974 · Reported as Cessna 172D · Destroyed · 2 fatal