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Atlas / NTSB / BFO85LA044

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event BFO85LA044

1985-05-07 WAYNESBORO, Virginia, United States Airport · W13 None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N8579S

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

CESSNA 182H

Year of manufacture

1965 · 20 years old at event

Engine

CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES (230 hp)

Seats / Engines

4 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19651025

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S ABC4FD

Registrant of record

HOPP GREGORY R

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Factual narrative

DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE PILOT NOTICED THAT THE LEFT DOOR WAS OPEN. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE DOOR, HE FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND THE AIRCRAFT SUBSEQUENTLY STRUCK TREES ALONG THE SOUTH SIDE OF RUNWAY 23. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1985_BFO85LA044.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.