# Accident 20021129031139A: Cessna 172N, Bradley, OK, November 29, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 29, 2002, 11:58 local time
- Place: Bradley, OK
- Damage: Destroyed
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.8500° N, 97.5864° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8500&lon=-97.5864&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5155E, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5155E-2013-11-13) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172N (registry code 2072434, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW03FA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03FA053) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021129031139A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED CHICKASHA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (CHK) AT ABOUT 11:50 TO CONDUCT A PIPE LINE INSPECTION FLIGHT. AT SOME TIME, BETWEEN 11:55 AND 12:00 THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND ON THE EDGE OF A WHEAT FIELD 3.6 MILES EAST OF HIGHWAY 76 SOUTH OF LINDSEY, OKLAHOMA. GPS COORDINATES N344853-W973971. THE ADDRESS AT A HOUSE NEXT TO THE SITE IS BRADLEY, OKLAHOMA 73011. THE AIRCRAFT WAS FLYING ON A HEADING OF ABOUT 90 DEGREES WHEN THE LEFT WING HIT THE GROUND A THE EDGE OF THE WHEAT FIELD AND WENT THROUGH A BARB WIRE FENCE AND TRAVELED FOR ABOUT 45 FEET BEFORE COMING TO A STOP ON A HEADING OF 90 DEGREES. THE AIRCRAFT WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE. THE RIGHT WING WAS FOUND ABOUT 360 FEET NORTH WEST OF THE MAIN WRECKAGE WITH THE WING STRUT ATTACHED TO IT. THE LOWER ATTACH POINT OF THE STRUT HAD ITS ATTACH BOLT JAMMED IN IT. THE RIGHT WING TIP AND SEVERAL PIECES OF THE WING BUTT FAIRING AND A PIECE OF INBOARD WING SKIN (12" BY 18") WAS FOUND ANOTHER 270 FEET NORTH OF THE RIGHT WING. (.19) ON NOVEMBER 29, 2002, APPROXIMATELY 1130 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA 172N SINGLE-ENGLINE AIRPLANE, N5155E, REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY CHI                                                            CKASHA AVIATION CENTER INC., OF CHICKASHA, OKLAHOMA, WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT IMPACTED TERRAIN FOLLOWING AN IN-FLIGHT BREAK UP WHILE ON A PIPELINE PATROL FLIGHT IN THE VICINITY OF LINDSAY, OKLAHOMA. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT, SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE AIRPLANE, WAS FATALLY INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED FOR THE TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 AERIAL OBSERVATION FLIGHT. THE LOCAL FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE CHICKASHA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT AT 103. THE NTSB INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE EXAMINED THE WRECKAGE AT THE ACCIDENT SITE ON NOVEMBER 29, 2002. EVIDENCE AT THE ACCIDENT SITE REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT WING SEPARATED FROM THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO IMPACT. FURTHER EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT WING'S STRUT TO FUSELAGE FITTING WAS FOUND WITHOUT A NUT THAT SECURES THE FITTING TO THE FUSELAGE.

## 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 FTW03FA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03FA053), Nov 29, 2002: Cessna 172N (N5155E), Lindsay, OK, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The in-flight separation of the right wing due to the missing nut that secures the right wing's strut to fuselage fitting to the fuselage.

## Other reports on N5155E (1)

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

- [Accident 19961019033139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961019033139A), Oct 19, 1996: Cessna 172N (N5155E), Fruitland Park, FL, Substantial damage. Veered off runway on takoff in a crosswind. Struck a fence. Lacked skill in type. Wind acceptable for this type.

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.