# NTSB MIA70AM061: Cessna 172I, N35403, Merritt Islnd, FL, January 20, 1970

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 20, 1970
- Place: Merritt Islnd, FL · MERRITT ISLND, FL
- Location: 28.3092° N, 80.6760° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Merritt Island, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.3092&lon=-80.6760&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 9, 1970
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 147708
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA70AM061
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA70AM061

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0054  70/1/20    MERRITT ISLND,FLA   CESSNA 172I         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 44, 10000
        TIME - 1320                    N35403              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MERRITT ISLAND
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MERRITT ISLND,FLA           TAMPA,FLA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - UNDETERMINED
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEAT BELT NOT FASTENED
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        REMARKS- UNCONTROLLED SPIRAL DIVE INTO RIVER.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N35403](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N35403-1970-06-04), registration cancelled 1970-06-04, S/N 17256750 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172I
- Registry model: [Cessna 172I](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172i) (registry code 2072426) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Merritt Island

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.