# NTSB MKC82FA006: Cessna 172N, N737RM, Prairie City, IA, November 24, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: November 24, 1981
- Place: Prairie City, IA · PRAIRIE CITY, IA
- Location: 41.5954° N, 93.2393° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Prairie City, IA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5954&lon=-93.2393&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 19, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123085
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC82FA006
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC82FA006

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3173  81/11/24 NR.PRAIRIE CITY,IA    CESSNA 172N         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 51, 323
        TIME - 0510                    N737RM              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          DES MOINES,IA               GRAIN VALLEY,MO
        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)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           PERSONNEL - WEATHER PERSONNEL: INADEQUATE/INCORRECT WEATHER BRIEFING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                 UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- DARK NIGHT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N737RM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N737RM-1982-03-02), registration cancelled 1982-03-02, S/N 17269616 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- 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 19811124075069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19811124075069A), Nov 24, 1981: Cessna 172N, Praire City, IA, Destroyed. VFR pilot lost control of aircraft in area of low ceiling, dark night with no ground lights. Near vertical impact.

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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