# NTSB ANC77FA084: Cessna 172, N61661, Palmer, AK, September 2, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 2, 1977
- Place: Palmer, AK · PALMER, AK
- Location: 61.5972° N, 149.1147° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Palmer, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5972&lon=-149.1147&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report January 13, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 144148
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC77FA084
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC77FA084

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3808   77/9/2  NR.PALMER,AK          CESSNA 172          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 28, 200
        TIME - 1935                    N61661              PX-  2  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 80 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ANCHORAGE,AK                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OBJECTS OR OBSTRUCTIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- LOOKING FOR MOOSE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N61661](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61661-1978-02-06), registration cancelled 1978-02-06, S/N 17264710 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19770902039369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770902039369A), Sep 2, 1977: Cessna 172M, Palmer, AK, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Looking for moose.

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.

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