# NTSB ATL81FA043: Cessna 340A, N8682K, Chapel Hill, NC, February 7, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 7, 1981
- Place: Chapel Hill, NC · CHAPEL HILL, NC
- Location: 35.9283° N, 79.0401° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Chapel Hill, NC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9283&lon=-79.0401&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 7 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 2, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 127005
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL81FA043
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL81FA043

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0712   81/2/7    CHAPEL HILL,NC      CESSNA 340A         CR-  2  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 38, 12500
        TIME - 1910                    N8682K              PX-  5  0  0  CORP/EXEC                 TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - HORACE WILLIAMS
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WASHINGTON,DC               CHAPEL HILL,NC
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - FOG
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPERLY LOADED AIRCRAFT-WEIGHT-AND/OR C.G.
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER SLIGHTLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                              UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          ZERO                                                     DRIZZLE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       40
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           30                                                       3
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- MANEUVERING FOR CONTACT APCH.LOADED NR AFT CG LMT,554LBS OVER MAX GROSS WT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8682K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8682K-2017-10-26), registration cancelled 2017-10-26, S/N 340A0617, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 340A
- Registry model: [Cessna 340A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-340a) (registry code 2076405) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Horace Williams

## 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 19810207002999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810207002999A), Feb 7, 1981: Cessna 340A, Chapel Hill, NC, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Struck trees trying to visually locate airport runway. Rainy, foggy, night. VFR pilot. Airplane over gross weight.

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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