# NTSB IAD79FIA07: Cessna 172, N5639T, Front Royal, VA, March 3, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 3, 1979
- Place: Front Royal, VA · FRONT ROYAL, VA
- Location: 38.9250° N, 78.1834° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Front Royal, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9250&lon=-78.1834&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 12, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 137219
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD79FIA07
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD79FIA07

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2116   79/3/3    FRONT ROYAL,VA      CESSNA 172          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 24, 240
        TIME - 1730                    N5639T              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 101 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          DAYTONA BEACH,FL            BUFFALO,NY                   MARTINSBURG,WV
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION W/KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           SYSTEMS - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: GENERATORS/ALTERNATORS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ELECTRICAL FAILURE
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - PARTIAL BRIEFING BY WEATHER BUREAU PERSONNEL, BY PHONE,LIMITED BY PILOT ACTION
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  50
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO FLY VISUALLY TO MRB.A/C GENERATOR  HAD FAILED ON PREVIOUS LEG.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5639T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5639T-1982-03-02), registration cancelled 1982-03-02, S/N 17251539 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172e) (registry code 2072412) (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 19790303012209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790303012209A), Mar 3, 1979: Cessna 172, Front Royal, VA, Destroyed. Tried flight in mountainous terrain without electrical power. Flew into clouds, then into trees on a ridge.

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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