# NTSB IAD79FA015: Cessna 172, N3292L, Mt Airy, NC, November 21, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: November 21, 1978
- Place: Mt Airy, NC · MT AIRY, NC
- Location: 36.5085° N, 80.6145° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Mount Airy, NC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5085&lon=-80.6145&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 3, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 138302
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD79FA015
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD79FA015

## NTSB brief (aircraft 2)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3627  78/11/21   MT AIRY,NC          CESSNA 150          CR-  0  0  1  INSTRUCTIONAL             STUDENT, AGE 18, 23 TOTAL
        TIME - 1630                    N60442              PX-  0  0  0  SOLO                      HOURS, ALL IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-MINOR        OT-  1  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MT AIRY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          ELKINS,NC                   LOCAL                        MT AIRY,NC
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OTHER AIRCRAFT
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: PILOT OF OTHER AIRCRAFT
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - NO CONTROL                          TRAFFIC ADVISORY ISSUED - NONE
          CONTROLLED/UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT - UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT   CONTROL ZONE/AREA - NO
          EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN - NO                                ANTI-COLLISION LIGHTS - INSTALLED,OPERATION UNKNOWN
```

## NTSB brief (aircraft 1)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3627  78/11/21   MT AIRY,NC          CESSNA 172          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 37, 500
        TIME - 1630                    N3292L              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  1                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MT AIRY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          MT STERLING,KY              GREENSBORO,NC                MT AIRY,NC
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OTHER AIRCRAFT
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: PILOT OF OTHER AIRCRAFT
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - NO CONTROL                          TRAFFIC ADVISORY ISSUED - NONE
          CONTROLLED/UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT - UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT   CONTROL ZONE/AREA - NO
          EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN - NO                                ANTI-COLLISION LIGHTS - INSTALLED,OPERATION UNKNOWN
```

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N3292L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3292L-2025-04-30), registration cancelled 2025-04-30, S/N 17256192, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172h) (registry code 2072424) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Mt Airy

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N60442](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N60442-2008-06-16), registration cancelled 2008-06-16, S/N 15070309, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150
- Registry model: [Cessna 150J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150j) (registry code 2071820) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Airport: Mt Airy

## FAA reports on this event (2)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19781121040691A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781121040691A), Nov 21, 1978: Cessna 172D, Mt Airy, NC, Destroyed
- [Accident 19781121040692A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781121040692A), Nov 21, 1978: Cessna A150K, Mt Airy, NC, Minor damage

## Other investigations on N3292L (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 MIA76DLG10](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA76DLG10), Aug 19, 1975: Cessna 172H (N3292L), Nichols, SC, 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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