# NTSB FTW73AF067: Cessna 172, N20318, Mena, AR, April 30, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 30, 1973
- Place: Mena, AR · MENA, AR
- Location: 34.5826° N, 94.2365° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Mena, AR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5826&lon=-94.2365&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 2, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 190644
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW73AF067
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW73AF067

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1077  73/4/30  NR.MENA,ARK           CESSNA 172          CR-  2  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 20, 59 TOTAL
        TIME - 0640                    N20318              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 17 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          LONGVIEW,TEX                RED OAK,IOWA                 FT.SMITH,ARK
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        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
          OBSCURATION                                              UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- RECOVERY DATE 6/20/73. FLEW INTO OBSCURED MTN SLOPE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N20318](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N20318-1973-08-24), registration cancelled 1973-08-24, S/N 172-61187 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (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 19730430013309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730430013309A), Apr 30, 1973: Cessna 172D, Mena, AR, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Recovery date 6/20/73. Flew into obscured mtn slope.

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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