# NTSB NYC74AN083: Cessna 172M, N12421, Martinsville, VA, March 30, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 30, 1974
- Place: Martinsville, VA · MARTINSVILLE, VA
- Location: 36.6835° N, 79.8636° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Martinsville, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6835&lon=-79.8636&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 10, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 186494
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC74AN083
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC74AN083

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0656  74/3/30    MARTINSVILLE,VA     CESSNA 172M         CR-  1  0  0  INSTRUCTIONAL             STUDENT, AGE 24, 33 TOTAL
        TIME - 1630                    N12421              PX-  0  0  0  TRAINING                  HOURS, ALL IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BLUE RIDGE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MARTINSVILLE,VA             LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL                                                    LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF FLIGHT CONTROLS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER SLIGHTLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    8000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- WIND IN AREA RPTD STG AND GUSTY.ACFT OBSVD ON FINAL TO NOSE DWN ALL AT ONCE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N12421](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N12421-1974-07-18), registration cancelled 1974-07-18, S/N 17261979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Blue Ridge

## 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 19740330008779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740330008779A), Mar 30, 1974: Cessna 172M, Martinsville, VA. Wind in area rptd stg and gusty. Acft obsvd on final to nose dwn all at once.

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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