# NTSB FTW73FPG56: Cessna 172M, N20397, West Memphis, AR, June 5, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: June 5, 1973
- Place: West Memphis, AR · WEST MEMPHIS, AR
- Location: 35.1496° N, 90.1993° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of West Memphis, AR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1496&lon=-90.1993&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report July 6, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 190482
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW73FPG56
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW73FPG56

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1262   73/6/5    WEST MEMPHIS,ARK    CESSNA 172M         CR-  0  1  0  INSTRUCTIONAL             STUDENT, AGE 25, 95 TOTAL
        TIME - 1705                    N20397              PX-  0  0  0  SOLO                      HOURS, 19 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - WEST MEMPHIS MUN
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WEST MEMPHIS,ARK            LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF POWERPLANT & POWERPLANT CONTROLS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ANTI-ICING/DEICING EQUIPMENT-IMPROPER OPERATION OF/OR FAILED TO USE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ICE-CARBURETOR
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO CARB./INDUCTION SYSTEM ICING
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    12000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      80
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- RPM DECAYED TO APRX 1400.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N20397 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: West Memphis Mun

## 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 19730605014969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730605014969A), Jun 5, 1973: Cessna 172M, West Memphis, AR, Substantial damage. RPM decayed to aprx 1400.

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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