# NTSB DEN73DTC17: Cessna 180, N3178D, Gillette, WY, January 21, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: January 21, 1973
- Place: Gillette, WY · GILLETTE, WY
- Location: 44.2726° N, 105.4989° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Gillette, WY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.2726&lon=-105.4989&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 9, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 170078
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN73DTC17
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN73DTC17

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0219  73/1/21    GILLETTE,WYO        CESSNA 180          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 46, 508
        TIME - 0930                    N3178D              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 25 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          GILLETTE,WYO                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: DITCHES                                   TAKEOFF: RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3178D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3178D), registered now, S/N 31976, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180
- Registry model: [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180) (registry code 2072602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19730121001329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730121001329A), Jan 21, 1973: Cessna 180, Gillette, WY, Substantial damage

## Other investigations on N3178D (3)

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.

- [NTSB ERA23FA252](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA252), May 31, 2023: Cessna 180 (N3178D), Harrisburg, PA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning and improper in-flight decision-making, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and a subsequent collision with terrain…
- [NTSB DEN68D0164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN68D0164), Dec 9, 1967: Cessna 180 (N3178D), Casper, WY, substantial damage
- [NTSB DEN66D0124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN66D0124), Sep 18, 1965: Cessna 180 (N3178D), Medicine Bow, WY, substantial damage

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.

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