# NTSB FTW04LA085: Cessna 172K, N79502, Angleton, TX, February 29, 2004

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 29, 2004, 06:30 local (12:30 UTC)
- Place: Angleton, TX
- Coordinates: 29.108333, -95.462501
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.1083&lon=-95.4625&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 2, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA Flight Service District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 58820
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW04LA085
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58820/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA085

## Probable cause

The unqualified person's failure to maintain clearance with the power lines.  A contributing factor was the night light conditions.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, unknown
  - stolen aircraft/unauthorized use - attempted, unqualified person
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - object - wire,transmission
  - clearance - not maintained, unqualified person (cause)

## Analysis

The airplane had been stolen and was being operated by a non-certificated person when it impacted power lines and terrain during night light conditions.

## Factual narrative

On February 29, 2004, approximately 0630 central standard time, a Cessna 172K single-engine airplane, N79502, was destroyed when it impacted power lines and the terrain while maneuvering near the Brazoria County Airport, Angleton, Texas.  The airplane was registered to a private individual.  The airplane had been stolen and was being operated by a non-certificated person, who was the sole occupant and was not injured.  Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the unauthorized flight.

According to an FAA inspector, 16 hangars were broken-into sometime in the evening hours of February 28, 2004, and the morning hours of February 29, 2004.  The wreckage of the stolen aircraft was located approximately 3 miles south of the Brazoria County Airport, after the airplane appeared to have impacted power lines and the terrain.  The accident airplane contained miscellaneous equipment taken from the hangars, and several beer cans.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N79502](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N79502-2007-03-13), registration cancelled 2007-03-13, S/N 17258135, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172K
- Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17258135
- Airframe hours: 2754
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Gary Smith
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 15, 2003, 21 hours before
- Departed: Angleton, TX
- Destination: LBX, Angleton, TX
- Airport: LBX, Brazoria County Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; injuries: none; flight hours: 0 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn
- Wind: 150° at 18 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: LBX, 3 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 20040229002959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040229002959A), Feb 29, 2004: Cessna 172K, Angleton, TX, Destroyed. (-23) Non-pilot took off in stolen aircraft. Struck high tension power lines and crashed. Operator walked away undetected and apparently uninjured.

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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