# NTSB MKC87IA066: Cessna 172, N98763, Neosho, MO, March 24, 1987

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: March 24, 1987, 07:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place: Neosho, MO
- Coordinates: 36.839195, -94.370536 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8392&lon=-94.3705&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 1, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34307
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC87IA066
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34307/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC87IA066

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - electrical tower (contributing factor)
  - object - guy wire (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT HAD JUST BEEN PURCHASED & WAS BEING FERRIED FROM ST LOUIS, MO TO SAN CARLOS, CA. THE PLT RPRTD HE WAS FLYING FROM SPRINGFIELD TO TULSA, WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED UNFORECAST WX & ELECTED TO DIVERT TO NEOSHO OR RETURN TO SPRINGFIELD. HE BEGAN A LEFT TURN TOWARD NEOSHO, BUT ENCTRD RISING TERRAIN, SO HE TURNED BACK TO THE RIGHT. WHILE TURNING, HE SAW A TV TOWER & MANEUVERED TO AVOID IT. HOWEVER, THE ACFT STRUCK A GUY WIRE & WAS DAMAGED, BUT CONTINUED FLYING. THE PLT THEN SHUT DOWN THE ENG & MADE AN OFF-ARPT LANDING WITH NO FURTHER DAMAGE. HE ESTIMATED THERE WAS A 600' CEILING WITH ONE MI VIS & WIND FROM 240 DEG AT 15 KTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N98763](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N98763), registered now, S/N 17276344, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17276344
- Airframe hours: 184
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Registered owner: Golden Gate Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 22, 1986, 85 hours before
- Departed: SGF, SPRINGFIELD, MO
- Destination: TUL, TULSA, OK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 412 total, 21 in this make and model, 266 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 600 ft overcast

## 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 19870324007999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870324007999A), Mar 24, 1987: Cessna 172P, Neosho, MO, Substantial damage. The aircraft struck guy wire while maneuvering to avoid IFR weather conditions. Pilot made safe emergency landing.

## Other investigations on N98763 (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 ANC22LA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22LA025), Mar 21, 2022: Cessna 172P (N98763), Kekaha, HI, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper decision to continue the visual-flight-rules flight into low visibility conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.

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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