# NTSB MKC73FCD62: Cessna 172, N20648, Mason City, IA, May 15, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 15, 1973
- Place: Mason City, IA · MASON CITY, IA
- Location: 43.1478° N, 93.2004° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Mason City, IA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1478&lon=-93.2004&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 22, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 190410
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC73FCD62
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC73FCD62

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1359  73/5/15    MASON CITY,IOWA     CESSNA 172          CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, AGE 50, 7612
        TIME - 0705                    N20648              PX-  0  0  3  OTHER PUBLIC              TOTAL HOURS, 112 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SPIRIT LAKE,IOWA            LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: ELECTRONIC TOWERS                         IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OBJECTS OR OBSTRUCTIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        REMARKS- HIT RADIO TOWER DURING WATER FOWL CENSUS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N20648](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N20648), registered now, S/N 17261460, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (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 19730515011849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730515011849A), May 15, 1973: Cessna 172M, Mason City, IA, Substantial damage. Hit radio tower during water fowl census.

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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