# NTSB SEA78DTA22: Cessna 172, N739CW, Red Lodge, MT, September 7, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: September 7, 1978
- Place: Red Lodge, MT · RED LODGE, MT
- Location: 45.1933° N, 109.2501° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Red Lodge, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1933&lon=-109.2501&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 4, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 140157
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA78DTA22
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA78DTA22

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2399   78/9/7    RED LODGE,MT        CESSNA 172          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 29, 1800
        TIME - 1550                    N739CW              PX-  0  0  3  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 30 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - RED LODGE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          RED LODGE,MT                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: FENCE,FENCEPOSTS                          TAKEOFF: ABORTED
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DELAYED ACTION IN ABORTING TAKEOFF
           WEATHER - SUDDEN WINDSHIFT
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - RAN OFF END OF RUNWAY
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     TAIL WIND 158-202 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           75                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- DENSITY ALT 8000FT. TSTM IN AREA.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N739CW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N739CW-1996-05-16), registration cancelled 1996-05-16, S/N 17270446 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Red Lodge

## 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 19780907026099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780907026099A), Sep 7, 1978: Cessna 172D, Red Lodge, MT, Substantial damage. Density alt 8000FT. Tstm in area.

## Other investigations on N739CW (1)

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 SEA94LA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA113), Apr 30, 1994: Cessna 172N (N739CW), Monarch, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: POOR IN FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS DOWNDRAFTS.

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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