# NTSB IAD79DID25: Piper PA-28, N41856, Roanoke, VA, August 15, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: August 15, 1979
- Place: Roanoke, VA · ROANOKE, VA
- Location: 37.2710° N, 79.9414° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Roanoke, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2710&lon=-79.9414&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 24, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 133744
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD79DID25
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD79DID25

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3481  79/8/15    ROANOKE, VA         PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 30, 93 TOTAL
        TIME - 2205                    N41856              PX-  0  0  2  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 16 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - ROANOKE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ROANOKE, VA                 MARION,OH
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          NONE                                                     330
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           19                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- CONTINUED FLT INTO MOUNTAIN AREA AFTR ENCOUNTERING DOWNDRAFT.FIRST NIGHT TKOF IN MTN AREA.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N41856](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N41856-1982-08-24), registration cancelled 1982-08-24, S/N 28-7415337, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (registry code 7102805) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Roanoke

## 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 19790815022069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790815022069A), Aug 15, 1979: Piper PA28/, Roanoke, VA, Destroyed. Climbing out from night takeoff, struck mountain top.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.