20040424008159A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Cessna 172N · Moselle, MS · April 24, 2004

Date: April 24, 2004 · 16:42 local
Place: Moselle, MS
Phase of flight: Unauth Low Level Opns
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N75812
NTSB investigation: NTSBATL04FA099
Reported as: Cessna 172N
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 3
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,200 total4 in this make and model

N75812Registration cancelled Dec 14, 2005 · Cessna 172NS/N 17267969 · Built 1976 Airframe modelCessna 172N Engine modelLycoming 0-320 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Witnesses reported that the aircraft over flew the area and they waved at it. As the aircraft turned to depart the area the right wing struck a radio tower guidewire. Then the right wing hit the tower itself. The nose dropped and the aircraft descended directly down into the ground.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT OVER FLEW THE AREA AND THEY WAVED AT IT. AS THE AIRCRAFT TURNED TO DEPART THE AREA THE RIGHT WING STRUCK A RADIO TOWER GUIDEWIRE. THEN THE RIGHT WING HIT THE TOWER ITSELF. THE NOSE DROPPED AND THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED DIRECTLY DOWN INTO THE GROUND.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ATL04FA099Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportMoselle, MSThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance and his inadequate visual look-out while maneuvering resulting in an in-flight collision with a radio tower.Apr 24, 2004 · Substantial damage