# NTSB SEA77FA014: Cessna 172M, N73478, Forks, WA, January 24, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 24, 1977
- Place: Forks, WA · FORKS, WA
- Location: 47.9528° N, 124.3902° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Forks, WA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9528&lon=-124.3902&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 10, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 156807
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA77FA014
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA77FA014

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0146  77/1/24    FORKS,WA            CESSNA 172M         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 23, 1549
        TIME - 1530                    N73478              PX-  2  1  0  AERIAL SURVEY             TOTAL HOURS, 28 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          QUILLAYUTE,WA               LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL                                                    IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE IN FLIGHT,CLEAR AIR
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN/LOWER SCATTERED                                    23000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      45
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           90                                                       15
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- SPAWNING SURVEY.LOW ALT,LOW SPD,HEAVY,BEGINNING LEFT TURN.PLT-FIRST RIVER SURVEY.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N73478](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N73478-1977-05-06), registration cancelled 1977-05-06, S/N 17267494 (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

## 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 19770124003439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770124003439A), Jan 24, 1977: Cessna 172M, Forks, WA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Spawning survey. Low alt,low spd,heavy,beginning left turn. Plt-first river survey.

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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