# NTSB MKC74AK011: Cessna 180, N9170C, Wessington, SD, September 8, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 8, 1973
- Place: Wessington, SD · WESSINGTON, SD
- Location: 44.4551° N, 98.6968° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wessington, SD, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4551&lon=-98.6968&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 1, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 188573
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC74AK011
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC74AK011

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2824   73/9/8  NR.WESSINGTON,S DAK   CESSNA 180          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 41, 415
        TIME - 0900                    N9170C              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 345 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MADISON,S DAK               PRAIRIE CITY,S DAK
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  800
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       58
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          120                                                       8
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- ATMTD VFR FLT BLO LO CEILING.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9170C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9170C-1973-10-25), registration cancelled 1973-10-25, S/N 31269 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180
- Registry model: [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180) (registry code 2072602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Miller Muni

## 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 19730908029669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730908029669A), Sep 8, 1973: Cessna 180E, Wessington, SD, Destroyed. Atmtd VFR flt blo lo ceiling.

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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