# NTSB IAD78FA052: Cessna 172E, N5615T, Leitchfield, KY, March 17, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 17, 1978
- Place: Leitchfield, KY · LEITCHFIELD, KY
- Location: 37.4862° N, 86.2847° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Leitchfield, KY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4862&lon=-86.2847&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 16, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 142476
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD78FA052
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD78FA052

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1221  78/3/17    LEITCHFIELD,KY      CESSNA 172E         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 46, 157
        TIME - 1615                    N5615T              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 99 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          INDIANAPOLIS,IN             BOWLING GREEN,KY
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                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
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - SNOW
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER CONSIDERABLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         SNOW SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          BLOWING SNOW                                              32
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          270                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- FLEW INTO INTENSE SNOWSHOWER,CRASHED INTO RIVER.WRECKAGE FND 3/18/78.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5615T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5615T-1982-03-26), registration cancelled 1982-03-26, S/N 17251515 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172E
- Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (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 19780317013049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780317013049A), Mar 17, 1978: Cessna 172D, Leitchfield, KY, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Flew into intense snowshower,crashed into river. Wreckage fnd 3/18

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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