# NTSB CHI73AEA30: Cessna 172M, N20644, Lafayette, IN, March 30, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: March 30, 1973
- Place: Lafayette, IN · LAFAYETTE, IN
- Location: 40.3995° N, 86.8628° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lafayette, IN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3995&lon=-86.8628&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report May 7, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 170338
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI73AEA30
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI73AEA30

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0708  73/3/30    LAFAYETTE,IND       CESSNA 172M         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 49, 23 TOTAL
        TIME - 1630                    N20644              PX-  0  0  0  PRACTICE                  HOURS, ALL IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - HALSMER
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LAFAYETTE,IND               LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            LANDING: TRAFFIC PATTERN-CIRCLING
           NOSE OVER/DOWN                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - PRODUCTION-DESIGN-PERSONNEL: INCORRECT FACTORY INSTALLATION
           POWERPLANT - FUEL SYSTEM: VENTS,DRAINS,TANK CAPS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL STARVATION
           TERRAIN - WET,SOFT GROUND
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- FUEL TANK CK VALVE INSTLD DWN AND AFT-FLAPPER HINGES AND WEEP HOLES TWRD BTM.FUEL TANK COLLAPSED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N20644](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N20644-1977-11-27), registration cancelled 1977-11-27, S/N 17261457 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Halsmer

## 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 19730330006849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730330006849A), Mar 30, 1973: Cessna 172D, Lafayette, IN, Substantial damage. Fuel tank ck valve instld dwn and aft-flapper hinges and weep holes twrd btm. Fuel tank collapsed.

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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