# Accident 20160704013839A: Cessna 172F, Brookings, OR, July 4, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 4, 2016, 23:00 local time
- Place: Brookings, OR
- Airport: Brookings Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.0789° N, 124.3333° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0789&lon=-124.3333&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7870U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7870U-2019-02-25) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172F (registry code 2072414, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172F
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR 0-300 SER
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 3
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR16LA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA138) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160704013839A

## Narrative

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

N7870U TOOK OFF FROM BROOKINGS, OR (BOK) AT 1055, 07/04/16, TO GRANTS PASS, OR (3S8).  THE AIRPLANE WAS REPORTED AS MISSING IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF 07/05/16 BY THE WIFE OF THE PILOT.  DEBRIS THAT APPEARED TO BE FROM THE INTERIOR OF AN AIRPLANE WASHED UP ON LONE RANCH BEACH NORTH OF THE BROOKINGS AIRPORT, APPROXIMATELY 3.5 MILES AWAY.  A BACKPACK WAS FOUND WITH A WALLET AND ID BELONGING TO ONE OF THE PASSENGERS REPORTED TO BE IN N7870U.  ON 07/06/16, THE NLG WITH ATTACHED NOSE WHEEL FROM A 172 SERIES CESSNA AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND WASHED UP ON A BEACH JUST SOUTH OF LONE RANCH BEACH.  THE NOSE GEAR FORK APPEARS TO HAVE DEPARTED THE SHOCK STRUT TUBE ASSEMBLY WITH THE UPPER TORQUE LINK BE BROKEN OFF FROM THE ATTACHING END TO THE SHOCK STRUT TUBE.  THE UPPER TORQUE LINK WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE LOWER TORQUE LINK AND THE NOSE GEAR FORK.  THERE DID NOT APPEAR TO BE ANY OTHER DAMAGE TO THE ASSEMBLY.

BASED ON THE OREGON STATE POLICE MEDICAL EXAMINER (M.E.) VERBAL REPORT, THE BODIES OF THE PILOT AND HIS SON WERE FOUND WASHED ON SHORE AT LONE RANCH BEACH IN THE SAME AREA AS THE ABOVE DESCRIBED DEBRIS. THE PILOT SUFFERED BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA TO THE CHEST AND ABDOMINAL AREAS AND A BROKEN ANKLE.  THE FIRST PASSENGER, MAX BELNAP, RECEIVED MAJOR HEAD TRAUMA.  THE M.E. BELIEVES DEATH OCCURRED ON IMPACT WITH THE OCEAN FOR BOTH INDIVIDUALS WITH OTHER DETERIORATION AS A RESULT OF MARINE ACTIVITY.

THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 1/2 TO 1 MILE OFF SHORE FROM LONE RANCH BEACH SUBMERGED 50 TO 60 FEET ON A ROCKY OUTCROP WITH THE ENGINE SEPARATED FROM THE FUSELAGE.

THE SECOND PASSENGER HAS NOT BEEN RECOVERED AT THIS TIME, 07/26/2016.

THE M.E. OFFICIAL TRANSCRIBED REPORT AND CAMI REPORTS ARE TO FOLLOW UPON COMPLETION.

## 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 WPR16LA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA138), Jul 5, 2016: Cessna 172 (N7870U), Brookings, OR, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's spatial disorientation and loss of situational awareness during the departure turn in dark night conditions, which resulted in an in-flight collision with water.

## Other reports on N7870U (1)

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

- [Accident 19730901028029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730901028029A), Sep 1, 1973: Cessna 172F (N7870U), Jasper, GA, Substantial damage. Acft collided with bushes off end of rnwy.

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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