# NTSB IAD79FID04: Cessna 172, N9850Q, Newport News, VA, November 29, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: November 29, 1978
- Place: Newport News, VA · NEWPORT NEWS, VA
- Location: 36.9788° N, 76.4280° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Newport News, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9788&lon=-76.4280&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 23, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 138370
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD79FID04
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD79FID04

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3835  78/11/29   NEWPORT NEWS,VA     CESSNA 172          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 53, 647
        TIME - 1836                    N9850Q              PX-  0  0  1  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 339 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - PATRICK HENRY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LEESBURG,VA                 NEWPORT NEWS,VA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ALTIMETER SETTING-INCORRECT
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - PARTIAL BRIEFING BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE/RADIO, LIMITED BY PILOT ACTION
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST/LOWER SCATTERED                                  300
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          DRIZZLE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          DUST                                                      49
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           60                                                       5
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      SPECIAL VFR
        REMARKS- PLT RQSTD & CNTLR APPVD SPCL VFR CLRNCE AT NITE.PLT NOT INST RTD.ALTMTR SET 3005 VICE 2999.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9850Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9850Q-1982-01-14), registration cancelled 1982-01-14, S/N 17265794 (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
- Airport: Patrick Henry

## 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 19781129037719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781129037719A), Nov 29, 1978: Cessna 172D, Newport News, VA, Destroyed. Plt rqstd & cntlr appvd spcl VFR clrnce at nite. Plt not inst rtd. Tr set 3005 vice 2999.

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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