# NTSB MKC81FA036: Cessna 172, N4509E, Carbondale, KS, May 22, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 22, 1981
- Place: Carbondale, KS · CARBONDALE, KS
- Location: 38.8219° N, 95.6932° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Carbondale, KS, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8219&lon=-95.6932&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 6, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125678
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC81FA036
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC81FA036

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1442  81/5/22    CARBONDALE,KS       CESSNA 172          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 37, 72 TOTAL
        TIME - 2035                    N4509E              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 15 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          TOPEKA,KS                   RETURN                       IOLA,KS
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     THUNDERSTORM
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      71
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     VFR
        REMARKS- ATC TWR,LOC 9NM N OF ACCD SITE,EVACD 10MIN AFT LAST RDO CTC DUE 70KT WDS FM TSTM.STORM MOVING NE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4509E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4509E-1982-11-05), registration cancelled 1982-11-05, S/N 17271618, built 1978 (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: Destroyed

## 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 19810522028219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810522028219A), May 22, 1981: Cessna 172N, Carbondale, KS, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Proceeded VFR into thunderstorm area, heavy rain, severe turbulence. Lost control. Was advised of severe weather.

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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