# NTSB FTW76AF083: Cessna 170, N5532C, College Sta, TX, April 4, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 4, 1976
- Place: College Sta, TX · COLLEGE STA, TX
- Location: 30.6280° N, 96.3344° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of College Station, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6280&lon=-96.3344&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 17, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 153693
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW76AF083
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW76AF083

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1626   76/4/4    COLLEGE STA,TX      CESSNA 170          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 42, 900
        TIME - 1035                    N5532C              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 185 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          BAY CITY,TX                 PURCELL,OK                   BRENHAM,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           PERSONNEL - WEATHER PERSONNEL: INCORRECT WEATHER FORECAST
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER SLIGHTLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  900
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      68
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          120                                                       6
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- PLT DIDNT UPDATE WEA INFO. R WG FAILED JUST BFOR IMPACT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5532C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5532C-1976-08-20), registration cancelled 1976-08-20, S/N 19579 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170
- Registry model: [Cessna 170](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170) (registry code 2072302) (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 19760404019609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760404019609A), Apr 4, 1976: Cessna 170A, College Sta, TX, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Plt didnt update wea info. R wg failed just bfor impact.

## Other investigations on N5532C (1)

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.

- [NTSB FTW67D0178](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW67D0178), Aug 13, 1966: Cessna 170A (N5532C), Seminole, TX, substantial damage

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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