# NTSB CHI81FA045: Cessna 172N, N737FB, Atlas, IL, April 11, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 11, 1981
- Place: Atlas, IL · ATLAS, IL
- Location: 39.5139° N, 90.9696° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Atlas, IL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5139&lon=-90.9696&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 10, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126226
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI81FA045
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81FA045

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0849  81/4/11  NR.ATLAS,IL           CESSNA 172N         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 45, 204
        TIME - 1531                    N737FB              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 89 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PITTSFIELD,IL              ATLAS,IL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: BUZZING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OBJECTS OR OBSTRUCTIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N737FB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N737FB-1984-02-02), registration cancelled 1984-02-02, S/N 17269375 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19810411015499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810411015499A), Apr 11, 1981: Cessna 172N, Atlas, IL, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Struck wires on low pass over lake. Impact severed portion of wing. Airplane rolled over, crashed inverted.

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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