# NTSB CHI72AC071: Cessna 172G, N4246L, Orion, IL, March 12, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 12, 1972
- Place: Orion, IL · ORION, IL
- Location: 41.3515° N, 90.3763° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Orion, IL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3515&lon=-90.3763&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 23, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 166033
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI72AC071
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI72AC071

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2260  72/3/12    ORION,ILL           CESSNA 172G         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 57, 250
        TIME - 1852                    N4246L              PX-  2  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WINONA,MINN                 MOLINE,ILL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      900
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                           RAIN SHOWERS, THUNDERSTORM
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       41
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           50                                                       11
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- FLEW INTO KNOWN TSTM AREA.ARTC TRIED TO ASSIST BUT PLT COULDNT HOLD HEADINGS OR GIVE POSITIONS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4246L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4246L-1972-08-11), registration cancelled 1972-08-11, S/N 17254315 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172G
- Registry model: [Cessna 172G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172g) (registry code 2072420) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## Other investigations on N4246L (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 MKC70D0275](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC70D0275), Nov 23, 1969: Cessna 172G (N4246L), Hibbing, MN, 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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.
