# NTSB FTW81FRA45: Cessna 172, N7851U, Palacios, TX, July 11, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: July 11, 1981
- Place: Palacios, TX · PALACIOS, TX
- Location: 28.7131° N, 96.2279° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Palacios, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.7131&lon=-96.2279&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 16, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123946
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81FRA45
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FRA45

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2615  81/7/11  NR.PALACIOS,TX        CESSNA 172          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 28, 108
        TIME - 1130                    N7851U              PX-  0  0  2  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 5 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          HOUSTON,TX                 PALACIOS,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: LOW PASS
           NOSE OVER/DOWN                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - WET,SOFT GROUND
           TERRAIN - SANDY
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- LNDD ON BEACH.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7851U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7851U), registered now, S/N 17251851, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (registry code 2072414) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19810711043779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810711043779A), Jul 11, 1981: Cessna 172F, Palacios, TX, Substantial damage. Engine quit over matagorda island. Landed on island closed airport runway. Nosed over. Lacked carbureator heat.

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.
