# NTSB LAX75AL021: Cessna 172M, N20673, Fort Apache, AZ, October 22, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 22, 1974
- Place: Fort Apache, AZ · FORT APACHE, AZ
- Location: 33.7901° N, 109.9886° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fort Apache, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7901&lon=-109.9886&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 24, 1975
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 142964
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX75AL021
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX75AL021

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3773  74/10/22 NR.FORT APACHE,ARIZ   CESSNA 172M         CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 69, 5695
        TIME - 1825                    N20673              PX-  1  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          KINGMAN,ARIZ                DEMING,N MEX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                 UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                            RAIN, THUNDERSTORM
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
        REMARKS- CONT FLT INTO KNOWN POOR WEA COND.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N20673](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N20673-1975-03-10), registration cancelled 1975-03-10, S/N 17261480 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (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 19741022043169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19741022043169A), Oct 22, 1974: Cessna 172M, Fort Apache, AZ, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Cont flt into known poor wea cond.

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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