# NTSB ANC78FA018: Cessna 320D, N234M, Wrangell, AK, February 5, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 5, 1978
- Place: Wrangell, AK · WRANGELL, AK
- Location: 56.4708° N, 132.3767° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wrangell, AK, within about 29 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=56.4708&lon=-132.3767&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 7, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 142841
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC78FA018
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC78FA018

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4405   78/2/5  NR.WRANGELL,AK        CESSNA 320D         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 34, UNK/NR
        TIME - 1901                    N234M               PX-  5  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          YAKUTAT,AK                  KETCHIKAN,AK
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            LANDING: INITIAL APPROACH
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: INITIAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION W/KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT
           INSTRUMENTS/EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES - FLIGHT AND NAVIGATION INSTRUMENTS: FLUXGATE COMPASS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL EXHAUSTION
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-2 ENGINES
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- FLUXGATE & COUPLING TO AUTOPILOT INOP.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N234M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N234M-2008-02-21), registration cancelled 2008-02-21, S/N 320D0069, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 320D
- Registry model: [Cessna 320D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-320d) (registry code 2074512) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Ketchikan

## 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 19780205042279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780205042279A), Feb 5, 1978: Cessna 320D, AK, Destroyed, 5 fatal

## Other investigations on N234M (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 CHI77FEE07](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI77FEE07), Dec 7, 1976: Cessna 320 (N234M), Wheeling, IL, substantial damage

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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