# NTSB ATL84FA095: Cessna 172RG, N5299U, Chesapeake, VA, February 12, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 12, 1984, 11:36 local (16:36 UTC)
- Place: Chesapeake, VA
- Coordinates: 36.749233, -76.219871 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7492&lon=-76.2199&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6253
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL84FA095
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6253/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL84FA095

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, THE PLT WAS TWICE ADVISED THAT THE DESTINATION WX WAS BELOW MOST USERS MINIMUMS. THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT THEN DEPARTED DULLES ARPT ON AN IFR FLT PLAN IN IMC. AFTER DEPARTURE, HE DID NOT FOLLOW ASSIGNED HEADINGS, & FOR A PERIOD OF ABOUT 30 MINS, RADIO COMMUNICATIONS WERE LOST. AFTER RADIO CONTACT WAS RE-ESTABLISHED, THE PLT WAS CONTINUOUSLY ADVISED THAT THE WEATHER AT HIS DESTINATION WAS BELOW MINIMUMS. THE PLT SUBSEQUENTLY STATED THAT HE WANTED TO PUT DOWN AT THE FIRST AVAILABLE ARPT. AGAIN, RADIO CONTACT WAS LOST UNTIL THE PLT REPORTED HE WAS FLYING INLAND TOWARD TRI-COUNTY ARPT IN AHOSKI, NC. THIS WAS THE LAST TRANSMISSION THAT WAS RECEIVED. THE PLT CHANGED HIS TRANSPONDER CODE TO 1200. THE ACFT SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED THE GROUND 1-1/2 MI SOUTH OF THE PLT'S ORIGINAL DESTINATION ARPT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5299U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5299U-1994-08-04), registration cancelled 1994-08-04, S/N 172RG0328 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172RG
- Registry model: [Cessna 172RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172rg) (registry code 2072438) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172RG0328
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-F1A6 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Mid Eastern Airways
- Registered owner: Great Eastern Air Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 13, 1983, 57 hours before
- Departed: WASHINGTON, DC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: Chesapeake, runway 4, 3,600 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 161 total, 37 in this make and model, 112 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 80° at 5 knots
- Temperature: 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ORF, 21 nm away

## 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 19840212043879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840212043879A), Feb 12, 1984: Cessna 172RG, Chesapeake, VA, Destroyed. Aircraft had erratic radio transmissions and lost contact with ATC. Crash occurred during approach to airport.

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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