# NTSB FTW82FRA14: Cessna R172K, N758SK, Hearne, TX, January 2, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: January 2, 1982, 09:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place: Hearne, TX
- Coordinates: 30.869285, -96.590873 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.8693&lon=-96.5909&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 2, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70998
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW82FRA14
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70998/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW82FRA14

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - initial climb
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, approach
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT TOOK OFF, FOG WAS NOTED AT THE AIRPORT. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE CEILING WAS ABOUT 100 TO 200 FT AND THE VISIBILITY WAS ABOUT 1/2 MILE. REPORTEDLY, THE PILOT TRIED TO CONTACT THE FSS BY TELEPHONE; HOWEVER, ONLY A PAY TELEPHONE WAS AVAILABLE AT THE AIRPORT. THE PAY PHONE WAS OUT OF ORDER AND COULD ONLY BE USED FOR INCOMING CALLS. ALSO, THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO CONTACT THE FSS BY RADIO WHILE ON THE GROUND. HE THEN STATED HIS INTENTION TO TAKEOFF AND CHECK THE WEATHER WHILE AIRBORNE. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT TAKEOFF AND THEN DISAPPEAR AT ABOUT 200 FT AGL. OTHER WITNESSES STATED THAT THEY HEARD A LOW FLYING AIRCRAFT AND A PROBABLE FLIGHT PATH WAS ESTABLISHED AROUND THE AIRPORT. TWO WITNESSES STATED THAT THEY STOPPED HEARING THE ENGINE BEFORE THEY HEARD THE IMPACT. THE PLANE CRASHED NEAR THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. THE INVESTIGATION INCLUDED AN ENGINE TEARDOWN, BUT NO PREIMPACT FAILURE WAS FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N758SK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N758SK-1983-04-14), registration cancelled 1983-04-14, S/N R1723322 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA R172K
- Registry model: [Cessna R172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r172k) (registry code 2072431) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: R1723322
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-360 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: David & Lila Keller
- Registered owner: David & Lila Keller
- Departed: T72, HEARNE, TX
- Destination: T72, HEARNE, TX
- Airport: T72, Hearne Municipal, runway 17, 7,500 × 0 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 345 total, 167 in this make and model, 273 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Observed at: W2X

## 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 19820102000369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820102000369A), Jan 2, 1982: Cessna 172K, Hearne, TX, Destroyed. Pilot made flight to check weather since he could not contact fss. Aircraft crashed in vicinity of airport.

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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