# NTSB MIA77FA023: Cessna 172, N12771, Wiggins, MS, January 3, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 3, 1977
- Place: Wiggins, MS · WIGGINS, MS
- Location: 30.8560° N, 89.1390° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wiggins, MS, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.8560&lon=-89.1390&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 7, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 157007
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA77FA023
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA77FA023

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0166   77/1/3    WIGGINS,MS          CESSNA 172          CR-  1  0  0  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1935                    N12771              PX-  0  0  0  FERRY                     AGE 47, 5172 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            2000 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - WIGGINS-STONE CTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TUPELO,MS                   WIGGINS,MS
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: LOW PASS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED CLEARANCE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER SLIGHTLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  300
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          4 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          HAZE                                                      41
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          350                                                       6
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- PLT COLLIDED WITH TREES WHILE ATTEMPTING TO FIND AIRPORT BY VISUAL MEANS IN IFR WX CONDITIONS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N12771](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N12771-1977-05-06), registration cancelled 1977-05-06, S/N 17262244 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Wiggins-Stone Cty

## 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 19770103003409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770103003409A), Jan 3, 1977: Cessna 172M, Wiggins, MS, Destroyed. Plt collided with trees while attempting to find airport by visual means in IFR wx conditions.

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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