# NTSB DEN79FQD15: Cessna 172, N739WT, Cloudcroft, NM, August 13, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: August 13, 1979
- Place: Cloudcroft, NM · CLOUDCROFT, NM
- Location: 32.9522° N, 105.7324° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cloudcroft, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9522&lon=-105.7324&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 3 minor
- Status: Completed, report October 20, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 134861
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN79FQD15
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN79FQD15

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3420  79/8/13    CLOUDCROFT,NM       CESSNA 172          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 28, 240
        TIME - 1220                    N739WT              PX-  0  0  2  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 7 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SAN ANGELO,TX               BOMARK,NM
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE,SPEED,AND ALTITUDE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FLEW INTO BLIND CANYON
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N739WT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N739WT-1982-08-24), registration cancelled 1982-08-24, S/N 17270871 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19790813018909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790813018909A), Aug 13, 1979: Cessna 172N, Cloudcroft, NM, Destroyed. Became lost enroute. Attempted to follow road in canyon. Unable to clear terrain or turn. Hit trees.

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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