# NTSB Accident CHI04FA234
> **Cessna 172E** · 2004-08-22 · Decorah, IA, USA · FATL
## Event
- **NTSB number:** CHI04FA234
- **Event ID:** 20040826X01294
- **Type:** Accident
- **Date:** 2004-08-22
- **Location:** Decorah, IA, USA
- **Coordinates:** 43.354167, -91.76667
## Injuries
- **Highest injury:** FATL
- **Fatal:** 2
- **Serious:** 1
- **Minor:** 0
- **Uninjured:** 0
- **Total aboard:** 3
## Aircraft
- **Make:** Cessna
- **Model:** 172E
- **Registration:** N5410T
- **FAR Part:** 091
- **Engines:** 1
- **Damage:** DEST
## Conditions
- **Light:** DAYL
- **Weather:** VMC
## Probable cause

The pilot's intentional operation of the airplane with a defective magneto, his failure to abort the takeoff due to degraded aircraft performance, and his failure to obtain or maintain airspeed which resulted in a stall/spin and subsequent impact with the ground.  Contributing factors were the improper installation of the magneto's contact points by unknown entities due to undertorque of the mounting screws which led to the loss of engine power.

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*Source: [NTSB CAROL](https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search?source=ntsb&type=event&ntsb_number=CHI04FA234) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*