# NTSB FTW73DQG38: Cessna 172K, N78587, Follett, TX, April 18, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: April 18, 1973
- Place: Follett, TX · FOLLETT, TX
- Location: 36.4340° N, 100.1408° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Follett, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.4340&lon=-100.1408&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 30, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 201512
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW73DQG38
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW73DQG38-201512

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1782  73/4/18    FOLLETT,TEX         CESSNA 172K         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 29, 108
        TIME - 2353                    N78587              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 40 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - FOLLETT
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          DENVER,COLO                 FORT WORTH,TEX               LIBERAL,KANS
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                LANDING: TRAFFIC PATTERN-CIRCLING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT
          MISC-PILOT BLINDED BY LIGHTNING FLASH
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON AIRPORT
                                  ADVERSE/UNFAVORABLE WEATHER
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      2000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                           THUNDERSTORM, RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          NONE                                                     170
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           19                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
        REMARKS- PIC ATTEMPTED ENROUTE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N78587](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N78587-1973-09-24), registration cancelled 1973-09-24, S/N 17257675, built 1968 (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
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Follett

## 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 19730418009039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730418009039A), Apr 18, 1973: Cessna 172D, Follett, TX, Substantial damage. PIC attempted enroute precautionary landing. Misc-pilot blinded by lightning flash

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.