# NTSB IAD79FA081: Cessna 172, N80979, Elkins, WV, September 10, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 10, 1979
- Place: Elkins, WV · ELKINS, WV
- Location: 38.9241° N, 79.8543° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Elkins, WV, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9241&lon=-79.8543&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 21, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 133105
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD79FA081
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD79FA081

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3299  79/9/10  NR.ELKINS,WV          CESSNA 172          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 65, 2450
        TIME - 2100                    N80979              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 82 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         ELKINS,WV                    HARRISBURG,VA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - UNDETERMINED
        REMARKS- ACFT OBSERVED TO CIRCLE THREE TIMES AND THEN PITCH NOSE DOWN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N80979](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N80979-1980-11-05), registration cancelled 1980-11-05, S/N 17266823 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (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 19790910036839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790910036839A), Sep 10, 1979: Cessna 172, Elkins, WV, Destroyed. Evidence indicates pilot lost control of acft at night from spatial disorientation. No ground lights in area.

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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