# NTSB DEN80FA046: Cessna 172M, N12362, Ft Collins, CO, June 29, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: June 29, 1980
- Place: Ft Collins, CO · FT COLLINS, CO
- Location: 40.5853° N, 105.0844° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fort Collins, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5853&lon=-105.0844&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 3 serious
- Status: Completed, report November 17, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 128791
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN80FA046
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN80FA046

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3768  80/6/29    FT COLLINS,CO       CESSNA 172M         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 51, 7758
        TIME - 1730                    N12362              PX-  0  3  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 32 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CHRISTMAN FIELD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          FT COLLINS,CO               LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: LOW PASS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
        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                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- LOW PASSES OVER HOUSE.ENCOUNTERED FREAK DRY THUNDERSTORM WITH WINDS GUSTING 45K.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N12362](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N12362-1982-04-15), registration cancelled 1982-04-15, S/N 17261948 (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: Christman Field

## 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 19800629021549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800629021549A), Jun 29, 1980: Cessna 172M, Ft Collins, CO, Destroyed. Caught in a freak dry thunderstorm winds while buzzing resident area. Stalled in severe downdraft. Hit parked auto.

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.