# NTSB ATL81FA022: Swearigen SA26AT, N177MF, Albany, KY, December 2, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 2, 1980
- Place: Albany, KY · ALBANY, KY
- Location: 36.6905° N, 85.1355° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Albany, KY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6905&lon=-85.1355&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 20, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 127463
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL81FA022
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL81FA022

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3663   80/12/2   ALBANY,KY           SWEARIGEN SA26AT    CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE,FL.INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1330                    N177MF              PX-  2  0  0  BUSINESS                  40, 7628 TOTAL HOURS, 24
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LEXINGTON,KY                ALBANY,KY
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  800
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          4 MILES OR LESS                                          RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       48
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          280                                                       16
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- CLEARED TO DSCND TO 3500FT.PLT RPRTD WAS GOING TO "SCOOT DOWN" UNDER LAYER.HIT MTN 1700FT MSL.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N177MF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N177MF-1981-10-15), registration cancelled 1981-10-15, S/N T26-179 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SWEARIGEN SA26AT
- Registry model: [Swearingen SA-26AT](https://openairdocs.org/model/swearingen-sa-26at) (registry code 8780112) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Albany

## 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 19801202071359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19801202071359A), Dec 2, 1980: Swrngn SA26AT, Albany, KY, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Descended through hole in clouds to find VFR airport. Struck crest of tree-covered hill. Low ceiling visibility.

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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