# NTSB LAX84FA047: Cessna 172N, N739YL, Elko, NV, November 4, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 4, 1983, 00:00 local (08:00 UTC)
- Place: Elko, NV
- Coordinates: 40.949962, -115.789764 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9500&lon=-115.7898&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23902
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84FA047
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23902/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84FA047

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - light condition - daylight (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WHILE ON A DEER SPOTTING FLT. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT. ABOUT 8 HOURS AFTER DEPARTURE THE ACFT WAS DECLARED MISSING. THE ACFT WAS FOUND THE FOLLOWING DAY AT ABOUT 0730 HOURS BY AIR SEARCH ACFT. GROUND SCARS INDICATE THAT THE ACFT IMPACTED IN ABOUT A 30 DEGREE RIGHT WING DOWN AND 5 DEGREE NOSE UP ATTITUDE. THE TERRAIN WAS SLOPING 30 DEGREES UPWARD AT POINT OF IMPACT. THE ACFT TRAVELED ABOUT 64 FT AFTER IMPACT. THE FLAPS WERE EXTENDED--RIGHT 10 DEGREES DOWN, LEFT 50 DEGREES DOWN. THE DAMAGE TO THE PROPELLER INDICATED POWER WAS BEING DEVELOPED AT TIME OF IMPACT. CONTINUITY OF THE FLT CONTROL CABLES WAS ESTABLISHED. POST-MORTEM AND TOXICOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS COULD NOT BE PERFORMED DUE TO FIRE AFTER IMPACT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N739YL (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17270912
- Airframe hours: 1762
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: El Aero Services, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 15, 1983, 18 hours before
- Departed: ELY, ELY, NV

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 16,081 total, 15,936 as pilot in command, 96 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: EKO, 30 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 19831104057879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831104057879A), Nov 4, 1983: Cessna 172N, Elko, NV, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Wreckage indicates a possible low altitude stall. Purpose of flight was deer spotting. Density altitude 7000 feet.

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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