# NTSB SEA71AS029: Cessna 172, N4431L, Reardan, WA, December 19, 1970

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 19, 1970
- Place: Reardan, WA · REARDAN, WA
- Location: 47.6701° N, 117.8786° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Reardan, WA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.6701&lon=-117.8786&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 29, 1971
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 159308
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA71AS029
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA71AS029

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2497  70/12/19   REARDAN,WASH        CESSNA 172          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 48, UNK/NR
        TIME - 0930                    N4431L              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SPOKANE,WASH                SEATTLE,WASH
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - WHITEOUT
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - SNOW
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  400
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       27
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          190                                                       9
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      VFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- CRASHED IN SNOW COVERED ROLLING WHEAT FIELD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4431L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4431L-1971-02-25), registration cancelled 1971-02-25, S/N 17254521, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172g) (registry code 2072420) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

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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