# NTSB ATL81FA079: Cessna 182, N444SP, Elizabethton, TN, May 28, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 28, 1981
- Place: Elizabethton, TN · ELIZABETHTON, TN
- Location: 36.3396° N, 82.2378° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Elizabethton, TN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3396&lon=-82.2378&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125161
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL81FA079
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL81FA079

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1896  81/5/28    ELIZABETHTON,TN     CESSNA 182          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 49, 10018
        TIME - 1735                    N444SP              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 474 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TRI CITY,TN                 PULASKI,VA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                 UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      62
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          270                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N444SP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N444SP-2013-07-19), registration cancelled 2013-07-19, S/N 18265951 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182
- Registry model: [Cessna 182Q](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182q) (registry code 2072732) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19810528030109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810528030109A), May 28, 1981: Cessna 182Q, Elizabethon, TN, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Pilot continued VFR flight into rising terrain in marginal weather conditions. Crashed into mountain.

## Other investigations on N444SP (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 CHI77FEM39](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI77FEM39), Sep 4, 1977: Cessna 182Q (N444SP), East Tawas, MI, no damage, 1 fatal

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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