# NTSB FTW73AF032: Cessna 172F, N8589U, Cleveland, TX, December 20, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 20, 1972
- Place: Cleveland, TX · CLEVELAND, TX
- Location: 30.3382° N, 95.0903° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cleveland, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3382&lon=-95.0903&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 27, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 169469
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW73AF032
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW73AF032

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3625  72/12/20   CLEVELAND,TEX       CESSNA 172F         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 40, 56 TOTAL
        TIME - 1804                    N8589U              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 4 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BEAUMONT,TEX                CONROE,TEX
        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
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - SNOW
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  800
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                           RAIN SHOWERS, THUNDERSTORM
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- LOST CTL IN TSTM AREA DURING ATC ASSIST.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8589U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8589U-1973-06-25), registration cancelled 1973-06-25, S/N 17252489 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172F
- Registry model: [Cessna 172F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (registry code 2072414) (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; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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