# NTSB ATL81FA006: Cessna 172, N7644T, Roanoke, VA, October 10, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 10, 1980
- Place: Roanoke, VA · ROANOKE, VA
- Location: 37.2710° N, 79.9414° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Roanoke, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2710&lon=-79.9414&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 20, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 127945
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL81FA006
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL81FA006

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3229  80/10/10   ROANOKE,VA          CESSNA 172          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 51, 250
        TIME - 2000                    N7644T              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ROANOKE,VA                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - SELF-HELP,PILOT CHECKED WEATHER DATA
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    1000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          DRIZZLE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       62
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          200                                                       3
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      SPECIAL VFR
        REMARKS- PLT ADVISED VFR FLT NOT RCMDD.DRG RTB AT NGT,BCM DISORIENTED.STRUCK RIDGELINE APRX 2300FT AGL.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7644T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7644T-2013-05-09), registration cancelled 2013-05-09, S/N 47244, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172a) (registry code 2072404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Wooldrum

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19801010058149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19801010058149A), Oct 10, 1980: Cessna 172A, Roanoke, VA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Struck trees near top of ridge. VFR pilot, low ceiling, fog in area. Dark night. Advised VFR not recommended.

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.

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