# NTSB LAX83FA051: Cessna 172N, N734MU, Casa Grande, AZ, December 7, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 6, 1982, 18:00 local (Dec 7, 1982, 01:00 UTC)
- Place: Casa Grande, AZ
- Location: 32.8795° N, 111.7574° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Casa Grande, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8795&lon=-111.7574&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 3 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 6, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70153
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83FA051
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70153/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FA051

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - light condition - dusk (contributing factor)
  - distance - misjudged, dual student (cause)
  - altitude - misjudged, dual student (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - object - wire,transmission(marked) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT FLEW INTO WIRES 34 FEET ABOVE GROUND 800 FEET FROM THE RUNWAY AT DUSK. THE WIRES WERE MARKED AND BOTH THE STUDENT PILOT AND THE INSTRUCTOR WERE AWARE OF THEM. A NO FLAP LANDING WAS BEING ATTEMPTED. THIS WAS ONE OF SEVERAL LANDINGS MADE. ALL LIGHTS ON AIRPORT AND AIRCRAFT WERE WORKING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N734MU](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N734MU-1989-12-04), registration cancelled 1989-12-04, S/N 17268967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172 68967
- Airframe hours: 1931
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: John C. Felix
- Registered owner: Hugh Montgomery
- Departed: CZG, CASA GRANDE, AZ
- Destination: CZG, CASA GRANDE, AZ
- Airport: CZG, Casa Grande Municipal, runway 23, 3,800 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 478 total, 300 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 45 statute miles
- Temperature: 149 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PHX, 32 nm away

## 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 19821206066179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821206066179A), Dec 6, 1982: Cessna 172N, Casa Grande, AZ, Destroyed. Aircraft hit wires on short final for night landing.

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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