# NTSB IAD79FA073: Cessna 172N, N738FR, Pinnacle, NC, September 4, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 4, 1979
- Place: Pinnacle, NC · PINNACLE, NC
- Location: 36.3228° N, 80.4232° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Pinnacle, NC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3228&lon=-80.4232&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 18, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 134253
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD79FA073
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD79FA073

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2881   79/9/4    PINNACLE,NC         CESSNA 172N         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 19, 86 TOTAL
        TIME - 1907                    N738FR              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 46 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WINSTON-SALEM,NC            LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: ACROBATICS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- FRONT SEAT PSGR WAS FORMER AEROBATIC CHAMPION,CODEINE LVL 0.06MG%.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N738FR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N738FR-2017-02-04), registration cancelled 2017-02-04, S/N 17269947, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (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

## 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 19790904034599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790904034599A), Sep 4, 1979: Cessna 172N, Pinnacle, NC, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Aircraft observed prforming stall maneuver from which it did not recover just prior to crash.

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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