# NTSB CHI81FA013: Cessna 172M, N5161R, Ithaca, NY, December 29, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 29, 1980
- Place: Ithaca, NY · ITHACA, NY
- Location: 42.4439° N, 76.5031° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ithaca, NY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4439&lon=-76.5031&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report January 30, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 127619
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI81FA013
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81FA013

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3272  80/12/29   ITHACA,NY           CESSNA 172M         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 32, 694
        TIME - 2035                    N5161R              PX-  0  2  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - TOMPKINS COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WHITE PLAINS,NY             ITHACA,NY
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               0
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          ZERO                                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       34
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          340                                                       4
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          BELOW MINIMUMS                                           IFR
        REMARKS- CRASHED 2000FT SHORT & 900FT LEFT OF RWY.PLT ADVISED WX ZERO-ZERO.ILS APCH.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5161R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5161R-1981-09-01), registration cancelled 1981-09-01, S/N 17263378 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Tompkins County

## 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 19801229080859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19801229080859A), Dec 29, 1980: Cessna 172M, Ithaca, NY, Destroyed. Descended below minimal on ILS approach. Hit trees short of runway. Was advised landing was illegal.

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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