# NTSB FTW73AF046: Cessna 172, N7546T, Salt Flat, TX, February 20, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 20, 1973
- Place: Salt Flat, TX · SALT FLAT, TX
- Location: 31.7437° N, 105.0927° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Salt Flat, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7437&lon=-105.0927&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 4, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 170105
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW73AF046
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW73AF046

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0136  73/2/20    SALT FLAT,TEX       CESSNA 172          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1558                    N7546T              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 40, 1106 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            1104 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          EL PASO,TEX                 ROSWELL,N MEX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  2000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      46
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- MOUNTAINS OBSCURED SOUTH.LOWERING CEILING.RCVRD 2/24/73.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7546T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7546T-1973-06-25), registration cancelled 1973-06-25, S/N 47146, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172a) (registry code 2072404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19730220004379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730220004379A), Feb 20, 1973: Cessna 172D, Salt Flat, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Mountains obscured south. Lowering ceiling. Rcvrd 2/24/73.

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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