# NTSB CHI81FA034: Cessna 172, N733XU, Lake Geneva, WI, March 10, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 10, 1981
- Place: Lake Geneva, WI · LAKE GENEVA, WI
- Location: 42.5825° N, 88.4268° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lake Geneva, WI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5825&lon=-88.4268&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 19, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 136432
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI81FA034
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81FA034

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0532  81/3/10    LAKE GENEVA,WI      CESSNA 172          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 25, 200
        TIME - 2058                    N733XU              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 80 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - PLAYBOY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LAKE GENEVA,WI              ROCKFORD,IL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGMENT
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - SNOW
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                              UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/2 MILE OR LESS                                         SNOW SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          BLOWING SNOW                                             IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- PLT'S BLOOD/ALCOHOL LVL .154 PERCENT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N733XU](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N733XU-1981-04-07), registration cancelled 1981-04-07, S/N 17268638 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Playboy

## 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 19810310009079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810310009079A), Mar 10, 1981: Cessna 172N, Lake Geneva, WI, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Under influence of alcohol, VFR pilot departed into heavy snowfall at night. Lost control. High speed ground impact

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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