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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

November 4, 1983 · Cessna 172N · N739YL

Elko, NV

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 4, 1983
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Elko, NV
Aircraft
Cessna 172N
Tail Number
N739YL
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX84FA047

THE ACFT CRASHED IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WHILE ON A DEER SPOTTING FLT. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT. ABOUT 8 HOURS AFTER DEPARTURE THE ACFT WAS DECLARED MISSING. THE ACFT WAS FOUND THE FOLLOWING DAY AT ABOUT 0730 HOURS BY AIR SEARCH ACFT. GROUND SCARS INDICATE THAT THE ACFT IMPACTED IN ABOUT A 30 DEGREE RIGHT WING DOWN AND 5 DEGREE NOSE UP ATTITUDE. THE TERRAIN WAS SLOPING 30 DEGREES UPWARD AT POINT OF IMPACT. THE ACFT TRAVELED ABOUT 64 FT AFTER IMPACT. THE FLAPS WERE EXTENDED--RIGHT 10 DEGREES DOWN, LEFT 50 DEGREES DOWN. THE DAMAGE TO THE PROPELLER INDICATED POWER WAS BEING DEVELOPED AT TIME OF IMPACT. CONTINUITY OF THE FLT CONTROL CABLES WAS ESTABLISHED. POST-MORTEM AND TOXICOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS COULD NOT BE PERFORMED DUE TO FIRE AFTER IMPACT.

Full Narrative

THE ACFT CRASHED IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WHILE ON A DEER SPOTTING FLT. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT. ABOUT 8 HOURS AFTER DEPARTURE THE ACFT WAS DECLARED MISSING. THE ACFT WAS FOUND THE FOLLOWING DAY AT ABOUT 0730 HOURS BY AIR SEARCH ACFT. GROUND SCARS INDICATE THAT THE ACFT IMPACTED IN ABOUT A 30 DEGREE RIGHT WING DOWN AND 5 DEGREE NOSE UP ATTITUDE. THE TERRAIN WAS SLOPING 30 DEGREES UPWARD AT POINT OF IMPACT. THE ACFT TRAVELED ABOUT 64 FT AFTER IMPACT. THE FLAPS WERE EXTENDED--RIGHT 10 DEGREES DOWN, LEFT 50 DEGREES DOWN. THE DAMAGE TO THE PROPELLER INDICATED POWER WAS BEING DEVELOPED AT TIME OF IMPACT. CONTINUITY OF THE FLT CONTROL CABLES WAS ESTABLISHED. POST-MORTEM AND TOXICOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS COULD NOT BE PERFORMED DUE TO FIRE AFTER IMPACT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time00:00 PST
Nearest Airport35nm SE
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172N
Tail NumberN739YL
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-H2AD · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 39 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility30 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 15000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point36 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time15:00
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data