# NTSB DEN81FTI15: Cessna 172N, N738XH, Libby, MT, August 15, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: August 15, 1981
- Place: Libby, MT · LIBBY, MT
- Location: 48.3864° N, 115.5564° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Libby, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.3864&lon=-115.5564&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 3 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 1, 1982
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123580
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN81FTI15
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FTI15

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3314  81/8/15  NR.LIBBY,MT           CESSNA 172N         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 35, 79 TOTAL
        TIME - 0835                    N738XH              PX-  0  2  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 10 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          KALISPELL,MT                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                              UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          ZERO                                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- ENCTRD FOG & LOW CIG IN CANYON AREA.ATMTD TO CLB ON TOP.BCM DISORIENTED & TURNED TWD MTN DRG CLB.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N738XH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N738XH-1983-01-12), registration cancelled 1983-01-12, S/N 17270314 (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: Substantial damage

## 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 19810815049699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810815049699A), Aug 15, 1981: Cessna 172N, Libby, MT, Substantial damage. VFR pilot tried to climb thru fog layer. Stalled broke out and impacted mountainside.

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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