# NTSB MIA81FLD54: Cessna 172, N738VF, Sebastian Inlt, FL, July 17, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: July 17, 1981
- Place: Sebastian Inlt, FL · SEBASTIAN INLT, FL
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 31, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125048
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA81FLD54
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA81FLD54

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1596  81/7/17    SEBASTIAN INLT,FL   CESSNA 172          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 25, 156
        TIME - 1530                    N738VF              PX-  0  0  1  PRACTICE                  TOTAL HOURS, 35 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MELBOURNE,FL                OPA LOCKA,FL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           NOSE OVER/DOWN                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
           TERRAIN - SANDY
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
                                  ADVERSE/UNFAVORABLE WEATHER
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         THUNDERSTORM
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      81
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          315                                                       15
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- PRCTNRY LNDG ON BEACH.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N738VF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N738VF-1982-03-02), registration cancelled 1982-03-02, S/N 17270266 (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 19810717042589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810717042589A), Jul 17, 1981: Cessna 172N, Sebastian Inlet, FL, Substantial damage. Encountered near zero visibility in area of thunderstorms. Nosed over landing on a beach.

## Other investigations on N738VF (1)

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.

- [NTSB MIA78FKT52](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA78FKT52), May 14, 1978: Cessna 172N (N738VF), Labelle, FL, substantial damage

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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