# NTSB SEA81DYE13: Cessna 172, N738HU, Bellingham, WA, February 4, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: February 4, 1981
- Place: Bellingham, WA · BELLINGHAM, WA
- Location: 48.7534° N, 122.4702° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bellingham, WA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.7534&lon=-122.4702&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 3, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 127213
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA81DYE13
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA81DYE13

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0166   81/2/4    BELLINGHAM,WA       CESSNA 172          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 36, 260
        TIME - 0825                    N738HU              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BELLINGHAM
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SEATTLE,WA                  BELLINGHAM,WA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           UNDERSHOOT                                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: GO-AROUND
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DELAYED IN INITIATING GO-AROUND
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFING RECEIVED-METHOD UNKNOWN
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          PARTIAL OBSCURATION                                      UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                           NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          GROUND FOG                                               CALM
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      SPECIAL VFR
        REMARKS- DISTRACTED BY FOG.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N738HU](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N738HU-2014-11-17), registration cancelled 2014-11-17, S/N 17269997, 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: Destroyed
- Airport: Bellingham

## 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 19810204002849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810204002849A), Feb 4, 1981: Cessna 172N, Bellingham, WA, Destroyed. VFR pilot became disoriented on final approach due to ground fog. Left wing hit ground. Crashed short of runway.

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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