# NTSB ATL85FA171: Piper PA-28-181, N8460M, Charleston, WV, May 22, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 21, 1985, 21:58 local (May 22, 1985, 01:58 UTC)
- Place: Charleston, WV
- Coordinates: 38.369293, -81.560928 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3693&lon=-81.5609&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6615
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL85FA171
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6615/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85FA171

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - fog
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (cause)
  - ifr procedure - not understood, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN ABOUT 1 MILE SHORT OF THE RWY THRESHOLD DURING AN IFR APPRCH ON A DARK NIGHT IN IMC WX. THE PLT HAD BEEN BRIEFED ON THE WX AND WAS GIVEN THE CEILING AT HIS DESTINATION AS BELOW VFR MINIMUMS . THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT CHOSE TO TRY AN APPROACH ANYWAY INSTEAD OF GOING TO AN ALTERNATE ARPT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N8460M (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8290054
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Atlantic National Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, April 5, 1985, 70 hours before
- Departed: 1G3, KENT, OH
- Destination: CRW, CHARLESTON, WV
- Flight plan: VFR/IFR
- Airport: CRW, Yeager, runway 23, 6,302 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 351 total, 43 in this make and model, 302 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 190° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 900 ft overcast
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CRW, 1 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 19850521018889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850521018889A), May 21, 1985: Piper PA28181, Charleston, WV, Destroyed, 2 fatal. VFR pilot filed IFR and attempted approach at night. Descended into trees. No approach plate in aircraft.

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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