# NTSB MIA78DLD80: Cessna 172, N737EL, Chiefland, FL, September 29, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: September 29, 1978
- Place: Chiefland, FL · CHIEFLAND, FL
- Location: 29.4917° N, 82.8659° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Chiefland, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4917&lon=-82.8659&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 15, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 138936
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA78DLD80
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA78DLD80

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2810  78/9/29  NR.CHIEFLAND,FL       CESSNA 172          CR-  0  0  1  INSTRUCTIONAL             STUDENT, AGE 23, 48 TOTAL
        TIME - 1605                    N737EL              PX-  0  0  0  TRAINING                  HOURS, ALL IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CROSS CITY,FL               LAKELAND,FL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           FIRE OR EXPLOSION: IN FLIGHT                             IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: DITCHES                                   LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           SYSTEMS - AUTO PILOT: AMPLIFIER AND COMPUTER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - BURNED
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIDDEN OBSTRUCTIONS
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING OFF AIRPORT
                                  SMOKE IN COCKPIT
                                  FUMES IN CABIN
        REMARKS- CESSNA AUTO PILOT CA295B RESISTOR PN3410563 SEVERELY BURNED.DITCH NOT DISCERNABLE FROM AIR.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N737EL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N737EL-1989-05-23), registration cancelled 1989-05-23, S/N 17269360 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19780929031779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780929031779A), Sep 29, 1978: Cessna 172D, Chiefland, FL, Substantial damage. Cessna auto pilot CA295B resistor PN3410563 severely burned. Ditch discernable from air.

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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