# NTSB LAX78FA034: Cessna 182P, N6955M, Benson, AZ, March 12, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 12, 1978
- Place: Benson, AZ · BENSON, AZ
- Location: 31.9679° N, 110.2945° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Benson, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.9679&lon=-110.2945&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 13, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 143436
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX78FA034
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX78FA034

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1774  78/3/12  NR.BENSON,AZ          CESSNA 182P         CR-  2  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 42, 113
        TIME - 1912                    N6955M              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 25 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TUCSON,AZ                   FORT HUACHUCA,AZ
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           COPILOT - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - SNOW
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  100
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/2 MILE OR LESS                                          RAIN, SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          BLOWING SNOW                                             IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- COPILOT HAD BEEN INSTRUCTOR PILOT FOR PIC.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6955M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6955M-1998-01-28), registration cancelled 1998-01-28, S/N 18263899 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182P
- Registry model: [Cessna 182P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182p) (registry code 2075816) (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 19780312017619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780312017619A), Mar 12, 1978: Cessna 182H, Benson, AZ, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Copilot had been instructor pilot for PIC.

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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