# NTSB NYC82FNA10: Cessna 172, N80420, Taunton, MA, January 24, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report
- Date: January 24, 1982, 02:30 local (07:30 UTC)
- Place: Taunton, MA
- Location: 41.9001° N, 71.0898° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Taunton, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9001&lon=-71.0898&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report January 24, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72794
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC82FNA10
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72794/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC82FNA10

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, approach
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, approach
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT TOOK OFF AT NIGHT ON AN UNSUPERVISED PLEASURE FLIGHT. HIS PASSENGER DID NOT HOLD ANY TYPE OF PILOT CERTIFICATE. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED FOG.HE USED THE NBD FOR ORIENTATION AND WAS ABLE TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. HE REPORTED OBTAINING VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE RUNWAY AFTER DESCENDING TO 500 FT, BUT WAS TOO HIGH TO LAND. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE STARTED TO MAKE A 360 DEGREE TURN AND DESCEND. HOWEVER, AS HE WAS MAKING THE TURN, HE ENTERED ANOTHER FOG BANK, BECAME DISORIENTED, AND CRASHED INTO TREES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N80420](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N80420-1982-03-17), registration cancelled 1982-03-17, S/N 17266579 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17266579
- Airframe hours: 1741
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Deveron Cole
- Registered owner: Deveron Cole
- Departed: TAN, TAUNTON, MA
- Destination: TAN, TAUNTON, MA
- Airport: TAN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 51 total, 30 in this make and model, 51 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Temperature: 113 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19820124002699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820124002699A), Jan 24, 1982: Cessna 172, Taunton, MA, Substantial damage. Student pilot and passenger departed into low ceiling and fog. Lost control circling after locating airport via adf

## Other investigations on N80420 (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 NYC76FNA52](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC76FNA52), Sep 12, 1976: Cessna 172 (N80420), Middleboro, MA, 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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