# Accident 19970122000749A: Cessna R172K, Bagdad, AZ, January 22, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 22, 1997, 08:45 local time
- Place: Bagdad, AZ
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Scud Running
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.5008° N, 113.0707° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5008&lon=-113.0707&mi=10
- Aircraft: N736WZ, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N736WZ-2013-05-07) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna R172K (registry code 2072431, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r172k) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-360 series (registry code 17025, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA R172K
- Reported engine: CONT IO360KB
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 528 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX97FA093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97FA093) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970122000749A

## Narrative

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

(.4) THE OPERATOR REPORTED THAT SEVERAL FLIGHTS WERE CANCELED ON THE MORNING OF THE ACCIDENT DUE TO DARKENING WEATHER NORTH OF THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. A WITNESS ON THE GROUND REPORTED THAT THE MOUNTAIN TOPS AROUND THE ACCIDENT SITE WERE SHROUDED IN CLOUDS. A SECOND WITNESS REPORTED A CLOUD BANK OVER THE MOUNTAINS, SOUTHEAST OF THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. A THIRD WITNESS FLYING THROUGH THE AREA REPORTED THAT THE MOUNTAINS NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE WERE OBSCURED IN LOW CLOUDS. THE PILOT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING BEFORE DEPARTURE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND TO HAVE CRASHED INTO RISING MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN SOUTH OF HIS DESTINATION.

## 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 LAX97FA093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97FA093), Jan 22, 1997: Cessna R172K (N736WZ), Bagdad, AZ, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: continued flight by the pilot into adverse weather conditions, and his failure to maintain sufficient altitude or clearance from terrain. Factors relating to the accident were: the high/mountainous…

## Other reports on N736WZ (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19921010041589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921010041589A), Oct 10, 1992: Cessna R172K (N736WZ), Picacho, AZ, Substantial damage. Reported dust devil whirlwind struck aircraft as he flared to land. Left wing struck runway. Slid sideways into trees

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.

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