# NTSB NYC81FNA16: Cessna 172N, N3543E, Cranston, RI, May 29, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: May 29, 1981
- Place: Cranston, RI · CRANSTON, RI
- Location: 41.7697° N, 71.4850° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cranston, RI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7697&lon=-71.4850&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 3, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125260
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC81FNA16
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC81FNA16

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2001  81/5/29  NR.CRANSTON,RI        CESSNA 172N         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 28, 120
        TIME - 2030                    N3543E              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 17 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          READING,PA                 CRANSTON,RI                   WORCESTER,MA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: DIRT BANK                                 LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - FOG
           TERRAIN - HIDDEN OBSTRUCTIONS
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING OFF AIRPORT
                                  ADVERSE/UNFAVORABLE WEATHER
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/2 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- ENCTRD FOG,UN TO SEE MOUND OF DIRT IN FLD BFR LNDG.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3543E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3543E-2013-10-23), registration cancelled 2013-10-23, S/N 17271579, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19810529030159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810529030159A), May 29, 1981: Cessna 172N, Cranston, RI, Substantial damage. Elected to land in farm field due to thick fog in area. On landing roll, struck dirt mound.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.