# NTSB FTW78DRD43: Cessna 172, N7268Q, Empire, LA, July 3, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: July 3, 1978
- Place: Empire, LA · EMPIRE, LA
- Location: 29.4452° N, 89.6144° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Empire, LA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4452&lon=-89.6144&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 8, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 141273
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW78DRD43
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW78DRD43

## NTSB brief (aircraft 2)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1526   78/7/3  NR.EMPIRE,LA          CESSNA 172          CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 52, 30000
        TIME - 1845                    N734FF              PX-  0  0  0  FISH SPOTTING             TOTAL HOURS, 1190 IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  1                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PORT SULPHUR,LA             LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OTHER AIRCRAFT
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: PILOT OF OTHER AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - NO CONTROL                          RADAR CTL/SURVEILLANCE - NOT UNDER RADAR CONTACT
          TRAFFIC ADVISORY ISSUED - NONE                           CONTROL ZONE/AREA - NO
          EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN - NO                                ANTI-COLLISION LIGHTS - INSTALLED,OPERATION UNKNOWN
        REMARKS- OBSERVING COMPANY FISHING BOAT'S CATCH.
```

## NTSB brief (aircraft 1)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1526   78/7/3  NR.EMPIRE,LA          CESSNA 172          CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1845                    N7268Q              PX-  0  0  0  FISH SPOTTING             46, 17400 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  1                            5000 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PORT SULPHUR,LA             LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OTHER AIRCRAFT
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: PILOT OF OTHER AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - NO CONTROL                          RADAR CTL/SURVEILLANCE - NOT UNDER RADAR CONTACT
          TRAFFIC ADVISORY ISSUED - NONE                           CONTROL ZONE/AREA - NO
          EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN - NO                                ANTI-COLLISION LIGHTS - INSTALLED,OPERATION UNKNOWN
        REMARKS- CIRCLING ABOVE N734FF AND WAITING TO OBSERVE FISHING BOATS CATCH.
```

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N7268Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7268Q-2013-08-08), registration cancelled 2013-08-08, S/N 17260568, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172l) (registry code 2072432) (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: Destroyed

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N734FF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N734FF-1981-10-14), registration cancelled 1981-10-14, S/N 17268815 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## FAA reports on this event (2)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19780703017201A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780703017201A), Jul 3, 1978: Cessna 172D, Empire, LA, Substantial damage. Circling above N734FF and waiting to observe fishing boats catch.
- [Accident 19780703017202A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780703017202A), Jul 3, 1978: Cessna 172D, Empire, LA. Observing company fishing boat's catch.

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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