# NTSB FTW79FA076: Cessna 320E, N3482Q, Covington, LA, April 22, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 22, 1979
- Place: Covington, LA · COVINGTON, LA
- Location: 30.4802° N, 90.1118° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Covington, LA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4802&lon=-90.1118&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 27, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 136248
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW79FA076
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW79FA076

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1169  79/4/22  NR.COVINGTON,LA       CESSNA 320E         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1355                    N3482Q              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  39, 8183 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          NEW ORLEANS,LA              WEST MEMPHIS,AR
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                           THUNDERSTORM
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      71
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           90                                                       30
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3482Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3482Q-2012-09-12), registration cancelled 2012-09-12, S/N 320E-0082, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 320E
- Registry model: [Cessna 320E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-320e) (registry code 2074514) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19790422017709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790422017709A), Apr 22, 1979: Cessna 320E, Covington, LA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Acft dived into ground in area of thunderstorm, low ceiling & heavy rain. Pilot had record of heart disease.

## Other investigations on N3482Q (1)

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.

- [NTSB CHI68F0526](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI68F0526), Jan 5, 1968: Cessna 320E (N3482Q), Pontiac, MI, substantial damage

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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