# Accident 20031221034339A: Cessna 172K, Van, TX, December 21, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 21, 2003, 13:30 local time
- Place: Van, TX
- Airport: Brady Field Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.5428° N, 95.7089° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5428&lon=-95.7089&mi=10
- Aircraft: N78189, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N78189-2018-01-24) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172K (registry code 2072430, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172K
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW04FA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04FA045) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031221034339A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON DECEMBER 21, 2003 AT APPROXIMATELY 133O CENTRAL STANDARD TIME, A CESSNA 172 SINGLE ENGINE AIRPLANE N78189 WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN, THEN TREES WHILE APPROACHING TO LAND AT BRADY FIELD NEAR GRAND SALINE, TEXAS. THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE FATALLY INJURED. THE AIRPLANE, REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT WAS OPERATING UNDER 14 FAR PART 91. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE PERSONAL CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT THAT DEPARTED JACKSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (JAN), NEAR JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, ABOUT 0930 LOCAL TIME. A WITNESS, WHO LIVED AT THE PRIVATE AIRPORT, HEARD THE AIRPLANE APPROACH RUNWAY 22. SHE STATED THAT THE SOUND OF THE ENGINE WAS SIMILAR TO WHEN AN AIRPLANE WOULD CROSS OVER THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD DURING LANDING. SHE NOTICED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS "WAY LOW" AND TO THE RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE. THE WITNESS OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE DESCEND IN A NOSE DOWN ANGLE INTO TREES, FOLLOWED BY THE SOUND OF AN IMPACT.

## 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 FTW04FA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04FA045), Dec 21, 2003: Cessna 172K (N78189), Grand Saline, TX, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while on final approach. Factors were the high winds and prevailing crosswind.

## Other reports on N78189 (1)

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

- [Incident 19800816067079I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800816067079I), Aug 16, 1980: Cessna 172K (N78189), Batesville, AR, Minor damage. Pilot landed too fast and to side of runway. Wheel barreled and damaged the propeller.

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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