# NTSB FTW65A0104: Cessna 120, N77380, Plaquemine, LA, April 18, 1965

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 18, 1965
- Place: Plaquemine, LA · PLAQUEMINE, LA
- Location: 30.2832° N, 91.2438° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Plaquemine, LA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2832&lon=-91.2438&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 3, 1965
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 179842
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW65A0104
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW65A0104

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2-0162  65/4/18    PLAQUEMINE LA       CESSNA 120          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 27, 197
        TIME - 2310                    N77380              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 195 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           TERRAIN - OTHER
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY WEATHER BUREAU PERSONEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      70
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          180                                                       7
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- RECOVERY DATE- 4-19-65 -ACCIDENT OCCURED DURING NITE FLT OVER DARK UNLIGHTED TERRAIN & IN BAD WX
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N77380](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N77380-1965-07-14), registration cancelled 1965-07-14, S/N 11-821 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 120
- Registry model: [Cessna 120](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-120) (registry code 2071402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

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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