# NTSB DCA81AA007: Cessna 500, N501GP, Bluefield, WV, January 21, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 21, 1981
- Place: Bluefield, WV · BLUEFIELD, WV
- Location: 37.2628° N, 81.2113° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bluefield, WV, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2628&lon=-81.2113&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 9, 1981
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 79603
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA81AA007
- Board report AAR8109 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8109.pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA81AA007

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1017  81/1/21    BLUEFIELD,WV        CESSNA 500          CR-  2  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 0844                    N501GP              PX-  3  0  0  CORP/EXEC                 46, 10463 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            3642 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MERCER COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          AUGUSTA,GA                  FREDERICK,MD                 BLUEFIELD,WV
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: OBJECT                                    LANDING: GO-AROUND
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DELAYED IN INITIATING GO-AROUND
        FACTOR(S)
           PERSONNEL - PRODUCTION-DESIGN-PERSONNEL: OTHER
           WEATHER - SNOW
           WEATHER - FOG
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT CONDITIONS: ICE/SLUSH ON RUNWAY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DOWNWIND
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - RAN OFF END OF RUNWAY
        WEATHER BRIEFING - SELF-HELP,PILOT CHECKED WEATHER DATA
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    1000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          FOG                                                      TAIL WIND 158-202 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           32                                                       70
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           10                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- INADQT AFM EMPHASIS RE REQD LDG DIST UNDER WET,ICY RWY CONDS.BRAKING ACTION REPORTED POOR.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N501GP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N501GP-1981-05-07), registration cancelled 1981-05-07, S/N 5000026 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 500
- Registry model: [Cessna 500](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-500) (registry code 2076602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo fan
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Mercer 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 19810121000889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810121000889A), Jan 21, 1981: Cessna 500CESSNA, Bluefield, WV, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Landed downwind on snow and ice-covered runway. Conditions exceeded stop distance. Belated go-around. Ran off end.

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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