# NTSB NYC81FNC18: Cessna 172, N734QZ, Kittery, ME, August 3, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 3, 1981
- Place: Kittery, ME · KITTERY, ME
- Location: 43.0900° N, 70.7383° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Kittery, ME, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0900&lon=-70.7383&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 9, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124135
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC81FNC18
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC81FNC18

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2859   81/8/3    KITTERY,ME          CESSNA 172          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 21, 116
        TIME - 1415                    N734QZ              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 11 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BIDDEFORD,ME                HANSCOM,MA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: DITCHES                                   LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN
        FACTOR(S)
           SYSTEMS - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: OTHER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ELECTRICAL FAILURE
           TERRAIN - WET,SOFT GROUND
           TERRAIN - HIDDEN OBSTRUCTIONS
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING OFF AIRPORT
                                  SUSPECTED MECHANICAL DISCREPANCY
        REMARKS- FUEL GAUGES UNRELIABLE W TOTAL ELEC FAILURE.RAN INTO DITCH COVERED W TALL GRASS DRG LNDG.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N734QZ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N734QZ), registered now, S/N 17269043, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- 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 19810803047409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810803047409A), Aug 3, 1981: Cessna 172N, Kittery, ME, Substantial damage. During flight, fuel gauges indicated empty and pilot attempted precautionary landing in hayfield. Flipped inverted.

## Other investigations on N734QZ (2)

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 NYC96LA039](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC96LA039), Dec 12, 1995: Cessna 172N (N734QZ), Sanford, ME, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to adequately compensate for a crosswind during the landing roll, which resulted in a collision with a snowbank. Factors relating to the accident were: ice on the runway and the…
- [NTSB NYC79FNA29](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC79FNA29), Aug 26, 1979: Cessna 172N (N734QZ), Newburyport, MA, 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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