# NTSB CHI81DER05: Cessna 172, N3222L, Thief River, MN, October 30, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: October 30, 1980
- Place: Thief River, MN · THIEF RIVER, MN
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 27, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 128075
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI81DER05
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81DER05

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3445  80/10/30   THIEF RIVER,MN      CESSNA 172          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 18, 88 TOTAL
        TIME - 1500                    N3222L              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 25 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - THIEF RIVER FALLS
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          THIEF RIVER,MN              WARREN,MN
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           NOSE OVER/DOWN                                           TAXI: TO TAKEOFF
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     LEFT QUARTERING HEAD WIND 293-337 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           54                                                      270
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           19                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- WIND GUSTS TO 27KTS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3222L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3222L), registered now, S/N 17256122, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172h) (registry code 2072424) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Thief River Falls

## 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 19801030058969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19801030058969A), Oct 30, 1980: Cessna 172, Thief River Fal, MN, Substantial damage. Wind blew airplane over as pilot taxied onto runway for takeoff. Severe gusty wind prevailed.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.