# NTSB NYC72DFA46: Cessna 172, N8420U, Malone, NY, June 7, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: June 7, 1972
- Place: Malone, NY · MALONE, NY
- Location: 44.8482° N, 74.2896° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Malone, NY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8482&lon=-74.2896&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 3 minor
- Status: Completed, report February 20, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 167468
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC72DFA46
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC72DFA46

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2201   72/6/7    MALONE,NY           CESSNA 172          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1251                    N8420U              PX-  0  0  2  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 35, 5200 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            450 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ISLIP,NY                    MALONE,NY
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER SLIGHTLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                 2500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- PLT UNSURE OF POS.COULDNT EXECUTE ARTC INSTRUCTIONS.DESCENDED BLO MIN ENROUTE ALT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8420U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8420U-1973-05-24), registration cancelled 1973-05-24, S/N 17252320, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

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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