# NTSB DEN79DTE79: Cessna 172, N30509, Dove Creek, CO, August 30, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 30, 1979
- Place: Dove Creek, CO · DOVE CREEK, CO
- Location: 37.7668° N, 108.9072° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Dove Creek, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7668&lon=-108.9072&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 19, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 133697
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN79DTE79
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN79DTE79

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3246  79/8/30    DOVE CREEK,CO       CESSNA 172          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 32, 136
        TIME - 1410                    N30509              PX-  0  0  3  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 133 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - DOVE CREEK
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          DOVE CREEK,CO               LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
        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                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      80
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- D/A APPROX 8300FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N30509](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N30509-1980-11-10), registration cancelled 1980-11-10, S/N 17264140, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Dove Creek

## 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 19790830028189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790830028189A), Aug 30, 1979: Cessna 172, Dove Creek, CO, Substantial damage. Made takeoff from uphill sod runway at high density altitude. Unable to climb. Landed on road. Hit fence post.

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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