# NTSB LAX77FA031: Cessna 172, N4181F, Payson, AZ, March 25, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 25, 1977
- Place: Payson, AZ · PAYSON, AZ
- Location: 34.2438° N, 111.3190° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Payson, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2438&lon=-111.3190&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 5, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 157925
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX77FA031
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX77FA031

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1428  77/3/25  NR.PAYSON,AZ          CESSNA 172          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 51, 341
        TIME - 1830                    N4181F              PX-  3  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 281 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SAFFORD,AZ                  RIMROCK,AZ
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - SNOW
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO CARB./INDUCTION SYSTEM ICING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                            RAIN, SNOW SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      34
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          280                                                       12
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- RECOVERY DATE 3/27/77.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4181F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4181F-1977-09-15), registration cancelled 1977-09-15, S/N 46081 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- 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 19770325019329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770325019329A), Mar 25, 1977: Cessna 172, Payson, AZ, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Recovery date 3/27/77.

## Other investigations on N4181F (1)

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.

- [NTSB DEN73DTM24](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN73DTM24), Mar 25, 1973: Cessna 172 (N4181F), Navajo Mt, UT, substantial damage

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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