# Accident 19910420011649A: Cessna 172N, Dunlap, TN, April 20, 1991

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 20, 1991, 09:30 local time
- Place: Dunlap, TN
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Scud Running
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.5592° N, 84.9491° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5592&lon=-84.9491&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5738J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5738J-1991-06-17) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172N (registry code 2072434, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Reported engine: LYC O320H2AD
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 8,736 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL91FA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL91FA084) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910420011649A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

FLEW INTO ROCK CLIFF ON SIDE OF A RIDGE. RIDGES OBSCURED FOG AND DRIZZLE. DEPARTED INTO 300 FOOT CEILING AND FOG.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (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 ATL91FA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL91FA084), Apr 20, 1991: Cessna 172N (N5738J), Dunlap, TN, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION, HIS ATTEMPTED VFR FLIGHT INTO IFR CONDITIONS, AND HIS SUBSEQUENT FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER ALTITUDE. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE:…

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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.
