Cessna 172 N3799R

Summary

On 9 January 1989 at about 01:45 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N3799R was involved in an accident near Chadron, Nebraska, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 January 1989 at 01:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Chadron, Nebraska, United States

Coordinates

42.8202, -103.0002

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N3799R

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Chadron → Casper

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

MKC89LA049

1 person had minor injuries.

THE PLT FAILED TO DEVOTE FULL TIME & ATTENTION TO FLYING THE ACFT, WITH A RESULTING LOSS OF CONTROL AND COLLISION WITH THE GROUND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF ON A DARK NIGHT, THE PVT PILOT SAID HE TURNED AROUND TO RETRIEVE SOMETHING FROM THE BACK SEAT. HE BECAME AWARE OF THE ENGINE'S RPM INCREASING, AND WHEN HE TURNED AROUND FACING FORWARD, HE COULD NOT SEE THE HORIZON. HE STARTED TO SCAN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHEN THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE TERRAIN, LEFT WING FIRST. THE WING FOLDED UNDER THE FUSELAGE AND THE AIRCRAFT SLID ABOUT 120 FEET.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.