# NTSB ATL85LA045: Cessna 172M, N12946, Ahoskie, NC, November 27, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 27, 1984, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Ahoskie, NC
- Coordinates: 36.279365, -76.979804 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2794&lon=-76.9798&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6716
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL85LA045
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6716/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85LA045

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach - vfr pattern - base turn
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - base turn
  - object - tree(s)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final

## Analysis

WHILE ON A NIGHT VFR LOCAL AREA FLIGHT THE PILOT NOTICED HAZE OBSCURING THE LIGHTS ON THE GROUND. HE RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT AND ACTIVATED THE REIL LIGHTS, HE LOST SIGHT OF THE LIGHTS AS HE ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. DURING THE LEFT TURN TO BASE, HE ENTERED FOG AND BECAME DISORIENTED AND ATTEMPTED A GO-AROUND. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED SOME TREES BUT WAS STILL CONTROLLABLE. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE ANOTHER APPROACH BUT AGAIN BECAME DISORIENTED AND THE ACFTIMPACTED THE GROUND ON THE AIRPORT BUT HEADING ABOUT 120 DEGREES LEFT OF THE INTENDED RWY. THE PILOT REPORTED ONLY 3 HOURS OF SIMULATED INSTRUMENT TIME.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N12946](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N12946-1987-08-04), registration cancelled 1987-08-04, S/N 17262392 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17262392
- Airframe hours: 824
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E20 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Edward T. Copeland
- Registered owner: Copeland Management Co.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 22, 1984, 58 hours before
- Departed: ASJ, AHOSKIE, NC
- Airport: A5J, Tri County, runway 36, 3,950 × 75 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: 195 total, 180 in this make and model, 166 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: EWN, 74 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 19841127064619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841127064619A), Nov 27, 1984: Cessna 172M, Ahoskie, NC, Destroyed. Thought he hit trees on approach to runway in fog. Tried second approach. Pilot does not remember what happened.

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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