# Accident 19971024031039A: Cessna 172M, Rabin County, GA, October 24, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 24, 1997, 09:42 local time
- Place: Rabin County, GA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.9496° N, 83.3894° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9496&lon=-83.3894&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1499U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1499U-2012-08-01) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172M (registry code 2072418, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Reported engine: LYC O320E2D
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 1,695 total, 19 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA98FA015](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98FA015) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971024031039A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

FLEW INTO SIDE OF CLOUD OBSURCED MOUNTAIN. HAD RECIEVED SPECIAL VFR DEPARTING ATHENS GA. (.4)THE PILOT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING, WHICH SHOWED INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES CONDITIONS WERE PRESENT ALONG THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT NEAR THE DESTINATION. AN ENROUTE STOP WAS MADE ABOUT 57 MILES SOUTH OF THE DESTINATION AND A SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE WAS RECEIVED TO LAND AT THE AIRPORT DUE TO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED FOR THE DESTINATION AFTER RECEIVING ANOTHER SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE, AND AFTER FREQUENCY CHANGE WAS APPROVED, NO FURTHER TRANSMISSIONS WERE RECEIVED FROM THE FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE WAS FOUND AT THE 4,400-FOOT MSL LEVEL ON A 4,600-FOOT MSL MOUNTAIN, 15 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE DESTINATION. THE AIRCRAFT HAD COLLIDED WITH TREES WHILE ON A NORTHERLY HEADING, IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE, CAUSING SEPARATION OF THE OUTBOARD WINGS. POSTCRASH EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT, FLIGHT CONTROLS, AND ENGINE SHOWED NO EVIDENCE OF PRECRASH FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE WEATHER REPORTING STATIONS AROUND THE CRASH SITE WERE SHOWING BROKEN TO OVERCAST CEILINGS BETWEEN 3,800 AND 4,200 FEET MSL WIT                                                             H VISIBILITIES 1.5-5 MILES IN MIST AND LIGHT RAIN. (-23) ACFT STRUCK TREES & CRASHED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA98FA015](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98FA015), Oct 24, 1997: Cessna 172M (N1499U), Rabun Gap, GA, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's continued flight under visual flight rules into known instrument meteorological conditions and his failure to maintain a safe altitude for terrain clearance resulting in the aircraft…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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