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    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: Cessna 170 / 305 / L-19 / O-1 / OE / 325 / SIAI-Marchetti SM.1019
    Latest Model:O-1A Bird Dog
    Last Military Serial:51-4770 US
    Construction Number:21655
    Last Civil Registration:N72BD
    Compressed ID:Cessna O-1A sn 51-4770 US cn 21655...
    Latest Owner or Location:Thomas H. Heidorf, Powell, TX

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    Dates

    Event

    1951

    Constructed as a L-19A-CE by Cessna at Wichita, Kansas, USA.

    1951

    Accepted by USAF for transfer to Army.

    1951

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army with s/n 51-4770.

    1962

    Redesignated as O-1A.

    Circa 1970

    To Civil Air Patrol, Maxwell AFB, AL with new c/r N5248G.

    Circa 1972

    Restored.
    It is assumed the airframe was restored in 1972 as this was the manufacturer date provided to the FAA.

    23 February 1972

    Certificate of airworthiness for N72BD (305A, 21655) issued.

    23 May 1976

    Involved in an incident.
    Summarized NTSB narrative from report number IAD76DID28: There were no fatalities. Incident occurred at 12:05 hours. The damage was substantial. Incident occurred at the Waynesboro Airport, Waynesboro, VA. This was a local flight from Waynesboro, VA. Ground looped or water swerved during the takeoff run. Collided with an airport hazard during the takeoff run. The factors included; runway lightning. Report remarks include: Aircraft veered left off runway hit adj runway light cone.
    For a complete description of the event read the NTSB Report.

    By 1983

    To unknown owner with c/r N27PP.

    31 July 1983


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
    Notes: At Oshkosh, WI

    28 September 1987

    To Plihal Jr Joseph A, Tyndall, SD keeping c/r N27PP.

    21 May 1997

    To Plihal Jr Joseph A, Tyndall, SD keeping c/r N27PP.

    13 February 2009

    To Smyers Jimmy DBA, Paris, TX keeping c/r N27PP.

    3 December 2010

    To unknown owner with c/r N27PP.
    Registration pending to a new owner in Houston, TX.

    7 January 2011

    To Rob G. Parrish, Houston, TX with new c/r N72BD.

    29 July 2017

    Crashed.
    The accident occurred at the Eagle Lake Airport (ELA) Eagle Lake, TX, United States while landing. The damage was substantial. The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane was in the rear seat during the personal flight and the airplane owner was in the front seat. The pilot made an approach to runway 17. He reported that, just before the landing gear touched down, the airplane encountered a wind gust from the right...
    For a complete description of the event read the NTSB Report.

    2018

    Repaired.

    30 November 2020

    To unknown owner with c/r N72BD.
    Sale reported to a new owner in Powell, TX.

    20 August 2021

    To unknown owner with c/r N72BD.
    Registration pending to a new owner in Powell, TX.

    14 January 2023

    To unknown owner with c/r N72BD.
    Registration pending to a new owner in Powell, TX.

    25 August 2023

    To Thomas H. Heidorf, Powell, TX keeping c/r N72BD.


    This dossier is waiting for review by an editor.This airframe dossier is based on
    unreviewed imported data.
    If you can verify the documented history or add to it with additional text and/or photos please feel free to do so by using the upload tool and the history editor.

    Credits
    Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...

    Internet Sources
    Aircraft.com
    AMCAR
    Federal Aviation Administration in the United States of America
    National Transportation Safety Board
    United States Military Services Serial Number Lists by Joe Baugher

    Individual Contributors
    Glenn Chatfield

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