# NTSB DEN80FA027: Cessna 172M, N20545, Englewood, CO, March 9, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 9, 1980
- Place: Englewood, CO · ENGLEWOOD, CO
- Location: 39.6470° N, 104.9945° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Englewood, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6470&lon=-104.9945&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 3 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 2, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 134926
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN80FA027
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN80FA027

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3147   80/3/9  NR.ENGLEWOOD,CO       CESSNA 172M         CR-  1  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1115                    N20545              PX-  0  2  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  29, 1650 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - ARAPAHOE COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         ENGLEWOOD,CO                 TRINIDAD,CO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL                                                    TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED WRONG RUNWAY RELATIVE TO EXISTING WIND
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPERLY LOADED AIRCRAFT-WEIGHT-AND/OR C.G.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DOWNWIND
        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                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          NONE                                                     260
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           20                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- WIND GUSTING 30K.FLD ELEV 5872FT.MAX TKOF GROSS EXCEEDED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N20545](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N20545-1982-09-28), registration cancelled 1982-09-28, S/N 17261382, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Arapahoe County

## 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 19800309005559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800309005559A), Mar 9, 1980: Cessna 172M, Englewood, CO, Substantial damage. Made downwind takeoff with over-gross airplane. Stalled trying to climb out in nose high attitude. Downdrafts.

## Other investigations on N20545 (1)

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 DEN76DTE83](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN76DTE83), Jul 17, 1976: Cessna 172 (N20545), Limon, CO, 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.

---
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.
