# N52778: 1981 Cessna 172P, registration cancelled 2013-04-08

- Type: Cancelled registration (FAA registry, deregistered aircraft)
- Cancelled: April 8, 2013
- Status when cancelled: Registration expired, pending cancellation
- Airframe: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436)
- Engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508)
- Data sheets: [TCDS 3A12](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/3A12), [TCDS E-274](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/E-274) (OpenAirDocs)
- Serial number: 17274605
- Year built: 1981
- Type of aircraft: Fixed wing single engine
- Engine type: Reciprocating
- Airworthiness: Standard, normal, utility
- Airworthiness date: January 23, 1981
- Certificate issued: March 28, 1983
- Last registry action: July 8, 1989
- Mode S code: A6A65D
- Owner when cancelled: [Vitale Robert J](https://openairdocs.org/faa-owner/VITALE%20ROBERT%20J)
- Location: [Wilmington, NC](https://openairdocs.org/faa-place/NC/Wilmington)
- Owner type: Individual
- Owner's area on the map: 34.2921° N, 77.9724° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at the center of ZIP code 28401, within about 3 miles (OpenAirDocs). The owner's mailing address, not where the aircraft was based
- The mark today: https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N52778
- FAA registry: https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=52778
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N52778-2013-04-08

From the FAA registry file of November 5, 2026, cancelled registrations. Owners' street addresses are left out. The Mode S code belongs to the N-number, not the airframe.

ADs and bulletins for the Cessna 172P: https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p.md

## NTSB investigations (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 ATL85LA137](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85LA137), Apr 17, 1985: Cessna 172P (N52778), Southern Pines, NC, destroyed

## FAA accident and incident reports (1)

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [Accident 19850417013159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850417013159A), Apr 17, 1985: Cessna 172P (N52778), Southern Pines, NC, Destroyed. Attempted go around with full flaps and mushed into trees after raising nose and taking off one notch of flaps.

## Other aircraft with N52778

- [Cancelled 1974-05-15](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N52778-1974-05-15): Cessna 182P, S/N 18262838. Exported to Germany. Owner: [Cessna Aircraft Company](https://openairdocs.org/faa-owner/CESSNA%20AIRCRAFT%20COMPANY), Zaventem

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