Cessna 172K accident near Lineville, Alabama, November 19, 1984
On November 19, 1984 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172K, registered N46537, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lineville, Alabama. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 19, 1984 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lineville, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N46537 · no longer on the register · serial 17257336
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT OBTAINED 2 WX BRIEFINGS STATING VFR FLIGHT NOT RECOMMENDED ALONG INTENDED ROUTE. PLT REQUESTED LOCAL WX ONLY DURING 3RD WX BRIEFING. REPORTING STATIONS UPWIND AND DOWNWIND OF MOUNTAINS WERE FORECASTING CEILINGS TO BE BELOW MOUNTAIN TOPS. ROUTE OF FLT WAS TO NW. WINDS ALOFT FORECASTED WINDS FROM 290 DEG AT 16 DTS FOR 3000 FT AND FROM 270 DEG AT 27 DTS FOR 6000 FT. PLT STATED ALT AND HEADING WERE VARIED TO REMAIN VFR. WITH WHISPY CLOUDS BELOW, PLT STATED CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE AND A DOWNDRAFT WAS ENCOUNTERED. PLT UNABLE TO CONTROL ACFT BEFORE CONTACTING TREES AT THE 1900 FT LEVEL ON THE SE SIDE OF MT. CHEHA. THE MOUNTAIN RIDGE ELEVATION IS APRX 2100 FT. FAMILY WAS FLYING TO MILITARY GRADUATION OF THE WIFES SON.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 278 hours in all; 122 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 214 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,496 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 27, 1984; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ABY Albany GA
- Destination: ANB Anniston AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 900 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 pm from ANB, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.