# NTSB CHI82FA160: Cessna 172C, N8432X, Sunburg, MN, May 11, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 10, 1982, 21:41 local (May 11, 1982, 02:41 UTC)
- Place: Sunburg, MN
- Location: 45.3480° N, 95.2398° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sunburg, MN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.3480&lon=-95.2398&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 10, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72758
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI82FA160
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72758/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI82FA160

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dusk (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - flight/nav instruments,directional gyro - erratic (contributing factor)
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT RECEIVED SEVERAL WEATHER BRIEFINGS AND WAS ADVISED OF A SEVERE COLD FRONT AND THUNDERSTORMS IN AN AREA ON HIS ROUTE. PRIOR TO TAKEOFF, HE WAS ADVISED THAT VFR FLIGHT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. WHILE EN ROUTE, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS "TOTALLY OBSCURED." SHORTLY AFTER THAT, HE REPORTED HAVING DIFFICULTY IN MAINTAINING A HEADING AND THAT HIS GYRO AND MAGNETIC COMPASSES WERE SPINNING. RADIO AND RADAR CONTACT WERE LOST SOON AFTER THAT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLANE CRASHED IN A WOODED AREA. AN EXAMINATION OF THE VACUUM PUMP REVEALED NO PREIMPACT FAILURE. A DISASSEMBLY OF THE DIRECTIONAL GYRO REVEALED SIGNS OF WEAR IN THE UPPER AND LOWER GIMBLE RING BEARINGS WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN ERRATIC OPERATION OR EXCESSIVE PRECESSION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8432X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8432X-1983-05-21), registration cancelled 1983-05-21, S/N 17248932 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172C
- Registry model: [Cessna 172C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172c) (registry code 2072408) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17248932
- Airframe hours: 2906
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Donald Maki
- Registered owner: Lynch Lake Flying Club
- Departed: ARV, WOODRUFF, WI
- Destination: BBB, BENSON, MN
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, invalid medical for flight; flight hours: 122 total, 80 in this make and model, 96 as pilot in command, 56 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dusk
- Wind: 280° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 800 ft overcast
- Temperature: 135 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: AXN, 30 nm away

## 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 19820510019339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820510019339A), May 10, 1982: Cessna 172C, Sunberg, MN, Destroyed. VFR pilot disoriented and confused after entering IMC with a defective directional gyro. Lost control and crashed.

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.